Dead man had a list of goals to fulfil

Sean Headifen was an ambitious businessman who had a list of goals pinned up in the bedroom he shared with girlfriend Sarah Whitburn in Palmerston North.

The 22-year-old also had a picture of a tropical island pinned up which he planned to own one day.

Mr Headifen was intending to expand his property investment business, Rent-a-Room, when they got back from their two-week holiday in Bali, Miss Whitburn said. But Mr Headifen never came home.

He died on Sunday morning after being attacked in a Bali bar.

"I just wanted him to come back with me; I hate him being there by himself," Miss Whitburn said after flying home on Wednesday night.

Before leaving she dressed him in an army T-shirt with a new white shirt overtop, his going out jeans and brown Adidas shoes.

She expects his body to arrive in New Zealand this week.

The couple met on November 27 last year and had not spent a day without seeing each other, Miss Whitburn said. "The first day I spent apart from him was yesterday."

She called him Seanberry and he called her Blondee.

Miss Whitburn had only met Mr Headifen's mum once, but was close to his 17-year-old sister, Rachael, and his cousins, Tiff and Matt Dempsey. They were at the airport to meet her along with family and friends.

Mr Headifen left Levin at the age of 17 to become a soldier, she said.

In September last year, he left the army to start his business.

"Sean used to always say live life to the fullest until death ... and he did. He's achieved more in his life than some people do in their whole life."

- © Fairfax NZ News