An Irishman was among nine people who died yesterday after a light aircraft crashed and burst into flames in New Zealand.
Patrick Byrne (26) from Gorey, Co Wexford, had qualifed as an electrician and had been in New Zealand just three weeks on a one-year working visa.
Family and friends prayed for Mr Byrne at Mass this morning in Askamore Church, Co Wexford,. Those attending spoke of Mr Byrne as been a quiet, pleasant young man, who had gone to New Zealand to embark on a new career.
Mr Byrne was from the small rural area of Brideswell, Askamore, Co Wexford, a townland between Bunclody and Carnew in north Wexford.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is liaising with his family.
The aircraft, owned by a skydiving company, crashed shortly after takeoff at the end of the runway at Fox Glacier Airport on South Island. A New Zealand Police spokesman said the plane was carrying a party of skydivers and tourists.
He said: “There were five New Zealanders on board plus a national each from Australia, Ireland, Germany and the UK. The embassies of each overseas victim have been informed and relatives are in the process of being advised.”
Police said the bodies would remain at the crash site until today.
Witnesses said the plane was almost entirely destroyed in the accident, which happened at 1.15pm local time. The Fletcher fixed-wing aircraft is popularly used for scenic flights and skydiving.
One local man was quoted in the New Zealand Herald: "It was like a fireball and then there was big puffs of smoke going up . . . [The plane] was engulfed in flames immediately."
Fox Glacier is a popular tourist spot in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, about 90 miles from Christchurch. Yesterday the city was hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that damaged buildings and injured at least two people.
PA