A rugby player was killed by a great white shark after diving from a boat.
Jade Kahukor-Dixon, 24, jumped into the waters off remote islands near New Zealand when the monster attacked him on Tuesday.
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Emergency crews rushed to the scene near the Chatham Islands, and Jade was taken to hospital, where he died.
A police spokesman said: “Emergency services were called at around midday after reports that the man – who had been diving from a boat – had suffered serious injuries.
“He was taken to Chatham Island Hospital, but has since died.”
His heartbroken father Jackie Dixon praised him as a “wonderful boy” in a tribute.
He described how Jade “loved fishing and diving” from a young age.
Jackie told Stuff: “I couldn't believe it. I kept imagining him when he was little. I'll never have my son.”
“He would do anything to protect his family. He was a wonderful boy, a much loved member of the family.”
Jackie said his son usually holds his breath and hides behind rocks at the bottom of the sea if he sees a shark while diving.
He added: “Then he would try to sneak back to the boat before the sharks saw him. He did that every time.”
Jackie told how Jade narrowly survived a shark attack four years ago after his foot became trapped.
“His mate was timing him and thought he had been there too long,” he said.
“His mate jumped out and swam over there and Jade's foot was stuck under a rock.
“He couldn’t get out and his colleague freed his foot and got him up and saved his life.”
Chatham Islands Mayor Monique Krohn said the community is in “complete shock.”
Jade was listed as one of the outstanding young players in the Chatham Islands rugby team in 2018.
“He's a local lad. He's very well known and well-liked, and this will be very devastating for our commercial divers,” she told Stuff.
“It's the biggest danger — the biggest fear.”
