Canyon victim a disabled Olympian

A disabled schoolboy who died alongside five classmates and a teacher in a river tragedy near Turangi was a Special Olympian who competed in an athletics event this month.

Tom Hsu had cerebral palsy and would have turned 17 on Thursday. The Taiwanese international pupilwas one of seven people from Elim Christian College to die in a flash flood while "canyoning" in Mangatepopo Stream on Monday.

Staff from the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre, which had organised the excursion, spoke to pupils at Elim yesterday then held a private meeting with bereaved parents.

Deputy principal Gary Johnstone said Tom had been involved in Special Olympics since last year, competing in athletics and ten pin bowling.

The teacher who died in the canyoning trip, Tony McClean, had accompanied Tom to athletics meets and is thought to have died trying to carry him to safety.

Mr Johnstone said Tom joined a group of pupils and teachers on an overnight tramp in the Kaimai Range just this month, carrying a full tramping pack.

"His coordination wasn't the best, but he certainly gave things a go.

"He was brilliant. He had quite a neat sense of humour and would take things in his stride. He was aware of his limitations but he gave it a go."

This week had been a sad time but the school was in good heart, Mr Johnstone said.

Special Olympics chief executive Alastair Hutchens said Tom placed fifth in the 100 metres, third in shotput and third in long jump at an Auckland athletics meeting this month. Special Olympics officials planned to meet Tom's parents, who had flown to New Zealand for their son's birthday, and present them with his athletics ribbons.The first of seven funerals will be held today.

Mr Hutchens said he understood Mr McClean had formed a bond with Tom and was trying to save him when the river claimed their lives.

"He was trying to lift Tom out of the water - that's my understanding. The natural thing would have been for an able-bodied person to look after the disabled person and he was the teacher that ended up giving up his life to save Tom."

The father of one of the pupils killed is undergoing his own battle for life.

Andy Bray, who lost his 16-year-old daughter Natasha and had fronted the media on behalf of the grieving parents, has been on dialysis since a throat infection 19 years ago travelled to his kidneys. He has had two transplants. The first, in 1988, failed. Last year Mr Bray, 51, was told he would need a third.

Because the previous transplants have produced antibodies that will attack his new kidney, he was told he would first have to have a ground-breaking operation in the United States. He has since learnt that Melbourne now has the expertise to do the operation.

The Elim Church community has raised $300,000 for the surgery. A suitable organ donor has yet to be found.

- © Fairfax NZ News