Messages of support are flooding in for the "absolutely top bloke" killed in a freak accident at a Queenstown golf course.
Jaden 'Jumbo' Goldfinch-Booker was with a group of friends when he was struck in the temple with a golf ball at the Frankton Golf Course on February 17.
After spending days on life support at Dunedin Hospital the 27-year-old passed away last Wednesday.
By Tuesday morning, nearly $10,000 had been raised for Mr Goldfinch-Booker's family, as messages of hope and prayers turned to condolences.
"It still feels like a bad dream to me," one donor said on the Givealittle page, set up by a family friend.
"Absolutely top bloke."
Another called Mr Goldfinch-Booker "the man who lights up every room with [his] contagious smile and warms the hearts of anyone [he came] in contact with".
"This is too hard to process."
The Givealittle page says Mr Goldfinch-Booker was simply at the "wrong place [at the] wrong time".
Many people said they'd miss his sense of humour the most - but even complete strangers have expressed their shock.
"I didn't know Jaden myself, however I worked with his amazing aunty... I heard stories at work about her nephew who she just adored and love more than anything."
Another donor said as a fellow golfer, he was "shocked and saddened" by the freak event.
An obituary for the 27-year-old reads that the family is "totally shattered".
"The angels just got too jealous of how much fun he created in this world. Taken too soon and we are lost without you."
Mr Goldfinch-Booker leaves behind a partner, his parents and an older brother and sister. The funeral will be held on Wednesday in New Plymouth, his home town.
Newshub.
