Drowned boy in a 'better place', says mum

A FRIEND TO ALL: Vanessa and Stacy Horton with a photo of Silva. "He rammed as much into his life as anyone could,'' Mr Horton said.

A man's heart breaking choice

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The mother of the 13-year-old boy who drowned in the Whanganui River says it is a small relief to know that he is in a better place.

"He'll be having a party at the moment," Vanessa Horton said of son Silva, who died when he was trapped inside the family's submerged car.

Her husband, Stacy, said it was important to recall the good times with Silva – the most good-natured and helpful person he knew.

"He was outgoing and anyone who he came across he made friends with.

"Even anyone he didn't like, if he saw they were in trouble he would go and help them."

The couple said Silva's funeral in Taihape on Thursday would be a celebration of his life and they planned to release 13 balloons to commemorate each year they spent with him.

"Everyone he met loved him and he loved anyone he met," Mr Horton said. "He'd have a go at anything – he wouldn't need help, he'd just go and do it."

Silva's favourite pastime was riding the motocross bike his father had bought him.

A keen racer, he had his first taste of competitive success by winning his age grade in a Wanganui motocross series earlier this year.

"He had dreams and aspirations of becoming a big motocross champ," Mr Horton said.

Silva was a passionate Christian and devoted himself to God two years ago.

"He rammed as much into his life as anyone could possibly do. He was so rapt when he turned 13 that he got to his teenage years.

"He said to me, 'I'm a teenager now, Dad,' but I said to him, `No, you're a young man now, son."'

Silva, Mrs Horton and a 14-year-old friend were in the car when it slipped off a slippery grass bank and into the river, near their Stewart St house.

They had been pursuing a group of teenagers who had vandalised their letterbox, with Mr Horton following shortly behind on foot. The couple said they held no grudges towards the four boys and one girl in the group, who were all aged about 15.

Mrs Horton said the family's letterbox had been attacked about six times in the past few months, but she understood the vandals thought someone else lived at the house.

"I love those kids and I know how they will be feeling," she said. "It was the wrong house, and I don't hold them responsible."

Police spokeswoman Kim Perks said some of the teenagers remained at the scene and were spoken to by police on Saturday night. By yesterday, all five had been contacted and referred to Youth Aid.

- © Fairfax NZ News