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On Thursday locals gathered at Medlands Beach for a blessing, shared prayer and meditation time. Photo / Vicky Kyan via Facebook
In a devastating development one of the boys who was buried under a collapsed sand dune on Medlands Beach has had his life support turned off.
The accident occurred on Sunday when the two boys were digging tunnels in the sand during a family picnic.
On Wednesday night a gut-wrenching social media post by Logan Golaboski, Levi's dad, confirmed the heartbreaking news.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we will say goodbye to our loved son Levi Sonchai Golaboski,” the statement read.
“We have all be[en] feeling the love.”
Logan urged everyone to keep praying for Riley, the other boy who remains in critical condition at Starship.
Levi will return home to Aotea on Friday.
The devastated community of Aotea, Great Barrier has banded together, and a Givealittle page has been created to support the families of the boys.
"The whole community of Great Barrier Island is devastated and banding together with solidarity and strength of love to support them," wrote Aroha McGeady, the creator of the Givealittle page.
The Givealittle has already raised over $50,000.
On Thursday morning locals gathered at Medlands Beach for a blessing, shared prayer and meditation.
Levi and Riley were flown by rescue helicopter to Starship Children’s Hospital at around 4 P.M. Sunday, in critical condition.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter teams praised around two dozen beachgoers, locals and emergency service teams who scrambled to dig the boys out.
One of the boys was able to be pulled out of the sand with the help of a vehicle. However, the other boy was completely buried and was not breathing by the time he was recovered.
The sand banks on Medlands Beach suffered erosion of around a meter after high seas from Cyclone Gabrielle in February.
The erosion also resulted in the loss of vegetation that plays a vital role in stabilizing the dunes.
Parts of the dunes themselves were carved out as far back as 10 to 15 meters during the storm.
Some had expressed concerns about the degree of erosion.
Low-lying homes on Sandhills Road were flooded when waters from Gabrielle penetrated the dunes and the estuary to the north of the beach, breached its banks.
Mā te whānau, mā te hapori e tangi ana, e ngau kino ana i te wehenga o te ora o te tamariki.
Through the family, through the community, we mourn and grieve the loss of Levi.
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