Mealamu's niece dies in park mishap

Christina Mealamu

Keven Mealamu

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A six-year-old girl, believed to be the niece of All Black Keven Mealamu, was crushed to death and a three-year-old boy was hurt while playing on a scrum machine at an Auckland park yesterday.

Relatives at the scene said the girl's name was Christina and that she was the daughter of Mealamu's younger brother Luke, who is a rugby coach. The girl was with a family group attending a touch tournament at the Tamaki Recreation Centre in Glen Innes when the accident occurred about 2.30pm. Ambulance staff said she received extensive injuries and they were unable to save her.

Another child, believed to be a three-year-old boy from the same family, was also taken to hospital with moderate injuries. Middlemore Hospital last night said the child was due to be discharged.

Mealamu was seen driving away from the park.

Last night, a babysitter at the Mealamus' Auckland home said the grieving family was at the hospital.

Witnesses to the tragic accident said that just before the scrum machine toppled, another little girl was shouting at Christina to get off it. Then there was a crash and the adults frantically ran to pull the machine off her. But it was too late.

One of the touch players, who did not want to be named, said the tournament was an annual fixture organised by a group of families and friends, who had shifted from Tokoroa to Auckland. It had been going for more than 20 years and was a way to maintain the Tokoroa connection. This year eight teams were playing in the tournament.

The man said when people realised something had happened there was pandemonium as they rushed to the scene. But he said that once there people remained calm and tried to help. "There was no screaming, just a constant flow of people."

He said the ambulance took less than 10 minutes to arrive but officers were unable to revive her. "It was just kids being kids. A tragic end to a beautiful day."

The Labour Department and police are investigating.

- Sunday Star Times