Opera fan 'dies smiling' after hearing Makisi sing

Peter Hurd, who woke from a day-long sleep when he heard the voice of his old friend Ben Makisi, has died.

Mr Hurd, 68, who had been a patient at Mary Potter Hospice, died yesterday morning from bone cancer.

He featured on the front page of yesterday's Dominion Post. He and Makisi sang together in the Wellington City Opera, but Makisi did not know he would be at the hospice when he agreed to sing at its 30th anniversary celebrations.

Mr Hurd's brother, Stephen Hurd, said it was a tremendous gift that Peter had been able to hear Makisi sing in his final hours.

"My sister-in-law, his wife, said he died with a big smile on his face."

Hospice staff said he had been "beaming from ear to ear" after hearing the star tenor perform Nessun Dorma.

Makisi had heard the news yesterday morning and had sent his condolences to the family. He said he was honoured to have been able to perform one last time for the man who used to pick him up and drop him off from opera practice.

"The nurses were telling me he hadn't woken up all day, and then he woke up and asked to be wheeled down to see who was singing," Makisi said.

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