There was "real hope" a prominent refugee advocate who initially survived an Auckland house fire which killed three of his family, would survive, a family friend says.
But Kaileshan Thanabalasingham died at Middlemore Hospital early on Friday, a month after the deadly fire at his two-storey Flat Bush home in south Auckland.
The fire, just days before Christmas, killed his five-year-old son, 39-year-old wife and 66-year-old mother-in-law.
Mr Thanabalasingham was taken to Middlemore Hospital with severe burns.
His 11-year-old daughter and 69-year-old father-in-law survived the fire.
Family friend Deborah Manning told Newshub it had been an "extremely difficult month" for the family.
"We all had real hope for him, and it was a rapid deterioration and he passed on early this morning and it has been a real big shock to all of us," she says.
She says the focus now will be on Mr Thanabalasingham's daughter.
"This has come as a terrible shock to the family and all the focus and attention is on his surviving daughter. She has to cope with this news, this devastating piece of news.
"She's a very beloved child and loved by many family friends and community, but of course nothing can ever prepare someone for something like this. It is very hard."
The Fire Service is still investigating the cause, but says the extent of the damage could make it impossible to pinpoint how the fire started, though it did begin in the lounge on the ground floor. It is not considered to be suspicious.
Mr Thanabalasingham, 47, was the Refugee Council of New Zealand secretary.
A Givealittle page was set up to help the surviving family and has raised just under $80,000.
Ms Manning says the family wanted to thank the country and the community for their "much-needed" support.
It was set up by the group Refugees as Survivors New Zealand, which said Mr Thanabalasingham "worked tirelessly" to help refugees and asylum seekers who were "struggling, and helping them through difficult situations".
"If anyone was in trouble, day or night, he would help them."
The funeral for the three others killed by the fire was held on January 5 at the Manukau Memorial Gardens.
It was attended hundreds, including by police and fire officers as well as Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.
Newshub.
