A Southland family had a tragic start to their New Year after a family member died in Melbourne.
Winton Tuhakaraina, 43, was hit by a car while cycling in Warrnambool, at around 8:45pm on Christmas Eve.
He was immediately helicoptered to hospital with serious head injuries. As he didn't have any identification on him when he crashed, police struggled to find out who he was and issued a public plea for help.
Mr Tuhakaraina spent Christmas Day alone in hospital, severely injured and battling for his life.
The Otago Daily Times reports his mother raced to Melbourne to be by his bedside and his life support was turned off on New Year's Eve. He died a short time later.
A Givealittle page has been created to help bring Mr Tuhakaraina back to his family in Invercargill.
"We want our brother home to his whanau in New Zealand," a family spokesperson wrote on the page.
"Please help us bring our brother home."
According to the Otago Daily Times, Mr Tuhakaraina was a shearer who had been working and living in Australia for around 10 years, with his wife and children.
Victoria police confirmed an investigation is underway into what caused the crash.
Newshub.
