<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>January</strong> <strong>11</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 10 NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Firefighters’ desperate bid to save colleague and ‘great mate’ • By Daniel Alvey and Ben Tomsett WHEN volunteer firefighters got the call to attend a medical emergency, the address was far too familiar. It belonged to one of their own, highly respected senior firefighter and great mate Gavin Lack. <strong>The</strong> 51-year-old had suffered a major medical event. Some volunteers raced directly to Lack’s home in Lincoln, bypassing normal procedure to go to the station and depart to the callout from there. <strong>The</strong>y worked desperately on their colleague and were soon joined by other volunteers and ambulance paramedics, but Lack died soon after. “A couple of us knew straight away it was Gav’s place so we went straight to the job and the truck followed,” Lincoln senior station officer Kyle Steans said. “We did what we could but it wasn’t to be,” said Steans. Steans said it was one of the toughest calls he’s ever had to take in his 25 years in the fire service. “It was pretty sad day. <strong>The</strong> last few days have been rough for everyone in the brigade.” Steans said the brigade had been focusing on looking after each other since the tragedy last week. “We had a debrief at the job, and after at the station, and some brigade-based catch ups over the weekend. A lot of members have been also checking in, and visiting others as well.” Lack’s service with the brigade spanned 12 years, four months TRAGIC: Popular volunteer firefighter Gavin Lack died after a sudden major medical event last week. PHOTOS: LINCOLN VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE and 19 days, from August 17, 20<strong>11</strong> to <strong>January</strong> 4. Steans said he had known Lack since before he became a firefighter. He was kind and gentle. “He stands out as someone with a common-sense, practical approach and a calm demeanour. I can’t recall ever seeing him angry, even during moments when he might have been frustrated. He’s a fantastic person to work with, and we’ve been good mates from the start,” he said. Lack was passionate about photography, which is how he became a volunteer firefighter. When the Lincoln station sounded, Lack would turn up, follow the crews to a fire which he would then photograph. He soon became their official brigade photographer and eventually joined the brigade as operational support. In 2016 he graduated as a firefighter and eventually worked his way up to become a senior firefighter. Lack also became a Fire and Emergency NZ staff member, having roles as a fire investigator in the risk reduction team, in logistics and as a member of the Urban Search and Rescue team. Steans said Lack quickly rose to senior level within the brigade, and undoubtedly had the potential to achieve even more. • Watch the video on <strong>Star</strong>news.co.nz RARE VISIT: Bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the sun captivated swimmers and jet ski riders at Akaroa Harbour’s French Bay on Sunday. PHOTOS: MOLLY KENNEDY/NICK TIPPING/RNZ Bottlenose dolphins delight onlookers A RARE visit by bottlenose dolphins to Akaroa Harbour has delighted swimmers and kayakers. <strong>The</strong> pod was estimated to be made up of as many as 100 of the dolphins and was seen just after 7am on Sunday near the Akaroa lighthouse and wharf. <strong>The</strong> animals were feeding in the water directly off Akaroa township by about 9.30am and moved towards the heads after about an hour, but stayed in the area until the afternoon. <strong>The</strong> dolphins were followed by several boaties, kayakers and jet ski riders. <strong>The</strong> endangered Hector’s dolphins are often seen in Akaroa Harbour, but it is very unusual to find bottlenose dolphins there. George Waghorn, part owner and skipper at Akaroa Dolphins, said it had been about a year since a smaller pod was seen in the same area. He said the dolphins had put on a show for the sightseers, who were delighted to see them. “It was pretty amazing to see them. <strong>The</strong>y were jumping and hanging around, and even our 2-year-old daughter got to go for a ride on the dinghy and she was screaming and loving it. “<strong>The</strong>y looked all really healthy – they were doing front flips, back flips, belly flops, side flops tail slaps.” <strong>The</strong> pod had left the harbour by Sunday afternoon, but Waghorn was now expecting bottlenose dolphin sightings to become more common in the area. – RNZ
Thursday <strong>January</strong> <strong>11</strong> <strong>2024</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>11</strong>
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