Leslie (14) was on a possum shoot with two family friends in the bush behind Ruatoki when the 4WD vehicle they were driving overturned on an incline. He was immediately trapped under the vehicle and, despite desperate attempts, was unable to be freed and died at the scene soon after. The accident happened in the very early hours of the morning and resulted in a hour long, 4km run in the dark, involving crossing the Whakatane River five times, to raise alarm. The trio had gone to spotlight for possums hoping to raise money for Christmas by selling the pelts.