Staff Reporter
The family of a six-year-old Richmond boy who died in Havelock last week have farewelled their “shining star”.
Nekko Paul Haworth was reported missing from Havelock in the early hours of Tuesday October 8.
Police divers located his body in the marina after a short search on Tuesday afternoon.
His funeral was held in Nelson on Monday.
Nekko’s father Tom Haworth shared his grief earlier last week.
He recalled the day his son was born on March 13, 2013.
“(It was) was the happiest day of my life, I was ecstatic to welcome my boy into the world as news spread to family and friends,” he said.
“I had never in my lifetime anticipated that six years later, I would be faced with the darkest day when I received a call saying my son was missing.”
Tom said his “heart dropped”.
“Hours later I received the news no parent should ever receive.”
He said that Nekko held a smile that “radiated across his face to the point that it would be impossible not to return a smile”.
Nekko’s mother Gemma Astwood described the agony of losing her son as “the worst day of my life”.
She shared a heart-breaking message on a fundraising website that has been set up to help the family.
“My son was the best thing that [happened] in my life,” she said.
“I’ll never forget you my darling boy.”
Gemma’s father Graeme Astwood expressed the “pain and hurt we are all suffering” as “indescribable” on a message shared to a community Facebook page.
“My wonderful daughter Gemma always put Nekko first. Nekko was her [shining] star and rock.
“So from now on when I go to work early in the morning on my bike I will look up in the sky and the bright shiny star will be my wonderful grandson looking down at me,” he said.
Nekko’s death has been referred to the coroner and is under investigation by police.