Drowned ‘street kid? nearly banned at camp

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 5

Drowned ‘street kid ? nearly banned at camp

PA Auckland A "street kid.” aged 14, who drowned while trying to save two girls at a Christian youth camp had nearly been prevented from attending the camp. He was Jason Tapiata, who had his birthday the day before he tried to rescue the girls in a raft accident at the Tapawingo Christian youth camp at Ararimu, South Auckland. Jason was one of seven teenagers playing on a raft on a man-made pond at the camp. One of the girls fell off and got into difficulties and

so did another girl who tried to help her. Jason was one of a number of others who jumped into the murky, cold waters to help. The camp's organiser. Mr Carey Martin, said Jason had also got into trouble and drowned in the 2m deep pond before he could be reached. "Jason went in after them but he was wearing jeans and shoes and just being in the cold water ... I think he just went straight down." The struggle to save the girls diverted attention from Jason's own problems, said Mr Martin.

He said Jason had asked twice if he could go to the camp with others from the youth club run by Mr Martin. "A lot of the kids at the Drop In are street kids — Jason was one — and they would not hack it at a Christian camp. "I said 'no' and during the youth club activities on Friday he asked me again. I thought about it later and then told him that if he really wanted to go with the kids to the camp he had to realise that it was a Christian teaching camp." Mr Martin said.