Death at Ōpōtiki dairy farm: mother of 6-year-old boy ‘shattered’ by tragic loss

The grieving mother of a 6-year-old boy who died in a tragic agricultural accident in Ōpōtiki has recounted how her world has fallen apart.

Angel Topp, known as Stormie, paid tribute to her son and the eldest son who was fatally injured on a dairy farm Thursday night.

She wrote on Facebook: “In memory of Rozayah Dallas Hudson,” along with the child’s date of birth and death.

In another post he said: “Mumma’s smashed hunny”.

She told Stuff that her son had a heart of gold.

“[He] he was so full of emotion and everyone around him would feel it. He had a strong, humble, loving, loyal, and helpful nature. “

Police were called to the Ōpōtiki farm in the eastern Bay of Plenty around 5 pm, where Rozayah was fatally injured.

Topp’s father, Scott Topp, wrote on a father’s Facebook page about the traumatic accident.

“I’m a broken man right now,” Topp said. “I had to watch as it passed by and there was nothing I could do.

“I feel useless, I couldn’t do anything. I stopped his mom and dad so they wouldn’t see him as he was. I sat next to him until we moved him.”

Topp said the hardest part was breaking the terrible news to her daughter and Rozayah’s father.

“I have a hole in my heart where my chest was. My grandson was named after my oldest son who passed away when he was 15 years old. I don’t know what else to say.”

He urged parents to love their children and spend as much time with them as possible.

“They can be here today and disappear in the blink of an eye [sic]. “

The pain of the whānau was shared by family and friends who paid homage to the boy.

“I will always remember your smile and it will be you,” wrote a loved one on Facebook.

“RIP little man,” wrote another.

His death has been referred to the coroner.

Police said in a statement yesterday: “We acknowledge the anguish of family and friends during this difficult time and our thoughts are with them.”

A WorkSafe spokeswoman said the death was the third on a New Zealand farm last week, following a tractor death in Te Kūiti last weekend followed by a second tractor-related death in Hastings.