Son died going to woman's aid

SUPPLIED

POPULAR: Joseph Tehau Pohio "never lost a friend, only gathered more''.

THE SOUTHLAND TIMES

GRIEVING: Joseph's parents, Arnold and Joy Pohio, of Kaiapoi.

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Helping people was second nature for Joe Pohio, killed by falling rubble as he crouched to help an injured woman.

The 40-year-old came to the aid of the woman in the Christchurch City Food Court in High St, when an aftershock sent debris crashing down on to his neck.

Through their grief yesterday, parents Arnold and Joy Pohio said their son was a popular man, who "never lost a friend, only gathered more". A Civil Defence member for 20 years, helping people was second nature.

Christchurch woman Lisa Raxworthy tried to help him. "She said we could consider Joe as a hero, but we don't know," Mrs Pohio said.

The couple were holidaying in the Catlins when a truck driver told them about the quake. Immediately, Mrs Pohio tried to phone her son, but could not reach him.

Initially they thought he was probably working with Civil Defence, but said it was out of character for him not to contact them. Despite working tirelessly after the September quake, he would take the time to phone home after every aftershock to check on his parents.

Joe's sister Hayley also tried desperately to find him. They received a message to call the hospital but staff could find no record of him. "We knew then," she said.

Eventually a policewoman broke the news.

Mr Pohio, a design draughtsman with Christchurch City Council, was positively identified from the photo on a swipecard.

The identification was traumatic, Mrs Pohio said. "You never ever, ever, ever think you're going to have to identify your own son. You don't expect to bury them."

Tears flowed as she read a tribute written by his friend of 25 years, Rachel Vogan.

"Joseph touched everyone he had ever met, from strangers at bus stops to travellers all over the world – loyal, caring and faithful. Joe had survived numerous misadventures in his life ... the elements have been trying Joe for years and it's taken an event of mammoth proportions to take him from this world."

Born with a hole in his heart, he had gone through several surgeries as a child.

His neck was broken two months out from his 21st birthday when he was hit by a car in Wellington on his way to an AC/DC concert. "We nearly lost him four times," Mrs Pohio said.

Her husband, who said little yesterday, summed up the couple's grief in one short line. "If I could swap places with him, I would."

A funeral will be held on Tuesday at the Pohios' Kaiapoi home.

- © Fairfax NZ News