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Natasha Martin / Stuff
The Timaru man and former Sergeant Greg Sutherland, photographed in 2012, died after being injured while hunting on Stewart Island in November.
A Timaru man who was seriously injured while hunting on Stewart Island in November died.
Former police sergeant Greg Sutherland died Saturday night surrounded by his family at Dunedin Hospital.
Sutherland, 51, had been in the Intensive Care Unit since he was seriously injured in a fall while hunting with friends on Stewart Island on November 20.
He was walking along a shore when he fell ten feet and suffered a head injury after a branch he grabbed broke. At the time, Sutherland was with friends trying to retrieve a deer he had shot the day before.
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Sutherland was airlifted to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
A Givealittle page created to help his family cover his expenses while he was receiving treatment had raised $ 27,350 on Monday.
On Sunday, Casey Murphy posted a message on the page informing donors that Sutherland had died.
“Unfortunately, earlier this week, Greg’s condition worsened. At 8.39pm on Saturday, Greg left this land. “
He went on to say that his organs had been donated and thanked everyone for their support and messages of encouragement “that were read to him at his bedside.”
Sutherland had worked as a police officer for 28 years, including in South Auckland, Christchurch, Twizel and Tekapo, before moving to Timaru and being promoted to sergeant. He left the New Zealand Police in 2018 and became a funeral director.
Aoraki Area Inspector Commander Dave Gaskin of Timaru said Sutherland would be sorely missed.
“I have known him for a long time, I worked with him in Christchurch before he came here. He was highly respected, ”Gaskin said.
Aorangi Funeral Services co-owner Shelly Wilson worked with Sutherland for the past two years and said he was an extremely valuable member of the team who was loved by his colleagues.
“We miss his smile, laugh and jokes. Her genuine empathy was felt by the families she cared for during her short time with us, ”said Wilson.
