Source: Radio New Zealand
Dave van Zwanenberg, left, and Craig Stevens. Supplied
The wives of two firefighters killed in a landslide during Cyclone Gabrielle have recounted the moment they learned their husbands had died.
Volunteer firefighters Dave van Zwanenberg and Craig Stevens were buried while responding to slips on Muriwai’s Motutara Road on 13 February 2023.
Stevens was freed from the pile but later died in hospital, while van Zwanenberg was found dead after two days of searching.
A coronial inquest into their deaths is being held in Auckland.
Van Zwanenberg’s wife, Amy, said she first heard that her husband was trapped as she was preparing to evacuate their home at about 2.45am on 14 February, several hours after the slip fell.
“I had just started to pack the car to leave when members from FENZ (Fire and Emergency NZ) arrived to tell me what had happened. They were fairly vague on details other than that Dave was missing. They were searching for him and conditions were obviously incredibly challenging,” she recounted.
“Under an hour later I was told that they had called off the search due to the severity of the conditions, high risk to search personnel and low chance of Dave’s survival.”
She said the following days were extremely difficult.
Dave van Zwanenberg with his children. Supplied / van Zwanenberg family
“We spent that night in an odd sort of horrific limbo without much hope but the distressing thought of Dave, whether alive or dead, alone in a pile of mud and rubble still waiting to be found,” she said.
“You can imagine how difficult and heart-wrenching that was to explain to our six-year-old son.”
Van Zwanenberg’s body was recovered on 15 February, two days after the slip.
“I was told at about 10.45am on the 15th of February that a body dressed in FENZ uniform had been located and later that day this was officially confirmed as Dave,” van Zwanenberg said.
“I was told I was not allowed to see or touch him, which was very hard to hear, but I was granted the privilege to go to the site and say goodbye from the outside of the undertaker vehicle. On its departure, men and women who’d been involved lined the exit in a guard of honour, an incredibly touching salute.”
Amy van Zwanenberg said she was proud of her husband’s work as a volunteer firefighter, which he did alongside working as a vet.
Amy and Dave van Zwanenberg. Supplied / van Zwanenberg family
“While adjusting to life without Dave has been very painful and my two young children are now growing up without their dedicated father, a life-long loss, they can be proud of who he was and the respect he’s been given even in death,” she said.
Steven’s wife, Lucy, echoed that sentiment.
“When Craig left [that day] both his mum Marianne and I talked about how proud we were of him being out there in the cyclone helping the community,” she said.
“I never saw him conscious again.”
Stevens died in hospital on 16 February, three days after the slip, surrounded by his family.
Craig Stevens is survived by his wife Lucy and his two children Kauri and Tai. Supplied via NZ Herald
“Finding out Craig wasn’t going to make it and then having to tell the boys they were going to lose their dad was the hardest and most distressing moment of my life,” Lucy Stevens said.
She described Stevens as a perfect husband and father.
“My six-year-old said the other day, ‘I at least needed one dad, and that one was perfect.’ The deep loss of their perfect dad and my loving husband and partner in life will remain with us forever.”
Stevens’ mother, Marianne, was visiting Muriwai from the United Kingdom when Cyclone Gabrielle hit.
Lucy Stevens read a statement written by Marianne to court.
“As a mother every fibre in your being wants to protect your child, and I was unable to do that,” she said.
Coroner Erin Woolley was visibly emotional as she thanked the women for giving evidence.
“I’m always grateful when family members have the courage to give evidence. I find it moving just listening to you so I admire you for having the ability to do that and thank you very much for doing so,” Woolley said.
The Cyclone Gabrielle inquest will move into its next phase in mid-March, with a focus on the events in Hawke’s Bay.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
