Thread: Landrover Defender used in last act of kindness

There was article in today"s paper about my friend of over 25 years who died in the February 22nd earthquake in Christchurch in 2011.
He was on his way home and stopped to help people by driving them up the hills on their way home. After he was finished he descended the hill and a aftershock loosened a boulder(s) which rolled down and killed him. If he had not stopped to help he would probably be alive today.
He was a great guy and loved his Landrover"s and used them for his many outdoor pursuits.


Article:
I'm Owen," he said, turning around in his seat and offering an impromptu introduction.

"I'll be your driver this afternoon."

He had a steely look in his eyes, this driver. The eyes of a man in charge of his thoughts and his actions, but amiable enough to make a tour-guide joke in the middle of all this.

Owen was a determined sort of guy, especially when it came to getting his way when he thought he was right. Those who knew him well could attest to that.

He wasn't one for sitting back and waiting to see how it all turned out. No, here was a man who made things happen.

Owen Wright, the 40-year-old owner of a joinery business and father of two, was giving half a dozen Lyttelton residents a ride home over the Port Hills. He had less than an hour to live.

That day, February 22, 2011, started normally enough for Owen. He was at work in the Woolston factory where he ran his joinery business.

The quake shook everything, and he and a colleague stayed a while to clean up.

Owen's family guess he left for home about an hour after the quake, just before 2pm.

The Lyttelton Tunnel was closed, so Owen decided to drive up the Bridle Path to the top of the Port Hills, where it was an easy walk down the other side. As he was leaving, he met Brita Corbett and offered her a lift.

Corbett's husband, Anthony, a builder, did business with Owen and Corbett herself, an architect, had spoken to him on the phone.

Others joined them, at Owen's behest, and soon he had a Land Rover full of passengers.
Continued here:

Last Act was Seeing Others Safe | Stuff.co.nz

A true hero