Statement from the family of Mr Arun Kumar

12 June 2014

At the moment it seems like our lives have come to a standstill. Tuesday was the hardest day of our lives and ever since we have had sleepless nights.

Arun was a perfect husband, a perfect dad and a perfect son. He really cared about his family. We've been running the shop for the last 5 years and Dad loved his shop, he was very social and always talking to everybody. It was less of a job and more of a hobby because he loved talking to people so much. Even when we told him to take a day off from the shop, he would find an excuse to go. He was always chatting to the customers and laughing with them. He had a very good sense of humour.

He was a very giving man and there are many examples that people are telling us, about how generous and kind he was.

Thank you to everybody who has included us in their thoughts and prayers, it really means a lot. There are so many people's lives that he had touched that we didn't know about and are only finding out about now and that is giving us a lot of comfort.

We are getting calls from across the country and overseas and we thank everyone very much for your support.

Thank you to the media for respecting our privacy and for continuing to do so.

The thought of the coming weeks and months are unimaginable at the moment.

We are now preparing for the funeral and taking things one day at a time.

A public viewing will be held tomorrow night (Friday) at the Heaven Falls Funeral Home at 3 View Road Henderson, from 6pm until 9pm. Members of the public are welcome to come and pay their respects, but no photos, audio or video are to be taken.

The funeral for Mr Kumar will be held at 2pm on Saturday, at Ann's Funeral Home, 11 Bolderwood Place in Wiri.

Media are welcome to attend however the Kumar family has asked that strictly no photos, audio or video are to be taken on the grounds or inside the funeral home. The family has also asked that media do not approach them on the day for comment.

ENDS

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