Gone but not forgotten

Fun-loving mate lived life to the full
By ALICE TEGG - North Shore Times
Friday, 2 February 2007




FREE SPIRIT: Andrew Atkinson died when he failed to resurface after a jump from a bridge over the Waikato River.

Mourners at today's funeral for Takapuna man Andrew Atkinson will remember a guy who lived his life to its fullest. The 22-year-old died after back-flipping from the Narrow Bridge over the Waikato River on Sunday.

Mr Atkinson had travelled to Hamilton to attend the Parachute Christian music festival at Mystery Creek with a group of friends from the Christian City Church in Auckland.

With him was close friend Josh Coburn, who spoke to the North Shore Times on behalf of the family.

Mr Coburn described him as the most popular guy he had met, an entrepreneur who was always cracking jokes and having fun. "He was a real character, the sort that made him the life of the party."

Mr Atkinson grew up in Takapuna with his parents Peter and Johneen , and three other brothers, including his twin David. He was a former Takapuna Grammar student.

He was actively involved in the church as a youth leader and musician and had helped run the Primal youth programme for four years. Mr Coburn says the East Coast Bays programme, which Mr Atkinson helped run last year, attracted a large group of 14 to 18-year-olds who looked up to him. "He was somebody who made a lot of time for people and treated them like his peers."

Mr Atkinson had crohns disease, an inflammatory bowel condition, but his friend says he never let it get the better of him. The past two years had been especially tough but after several operations he had regained his strength this summer. In fact just before his death he had said he felt as strong as ever , Mr Coburn says. "He wasn't really someone who was dictated to by the consequences of that illness."

Soon after one operation he went snowboarding, much to the horror of concerned family members and friends. Mr Atkinson had always maintained it was his faith that got him through tough times, Mr Coburn says. He was also a keen kitesurfer, skateboarder and surfer. After school Mr Atkinson had dabbled in a variety of small business ventures and other jobs "just doing the things he loved", Mr Coburn says.

Today's funeral is at the Harbourside church on Esmonde Rd. Mr Coburn says the family expects a large crowd. Christian City Church held a memorial service yesterday to give his friends more of a chance to celebrate his life.

Mr Coburn says Mr Atkinson "took his camera around with him everywhere" and the memorial service featured his music, film clips and photos.