There are numerous “distressing”, unanswered questions around the 2024 death of Faʻanānā Efeso Collins that require a full probe, according to his widow.
A coronial inquiry is underway into the events surrounding the death of the former Green MP and Auckland Councillor. He died aged 49 after taking part in a ChildFund charity event on February 21, 2024 at Te Komititanga, outside Auckland’s Britomart train station.
In a case management conference at the Coroner’s Court in Auckland on Wednesday — meant to allow the Collins family to raise outstanding issues about how the inquiry would proceed and whether an inquest would be held — Vasa Fia Collins said her late husband deserved nothing less than a “full and thorough inquest” done face-to-face, given her ongoing concerns.
She alleged ChildFund, as well as public relations and event firm Campbell + Co, did not fully consider the risks the charity event could pose when organising it.
The charity event required participants to carry two five-litre buckets of water for 1km — something Collins said event organisers had not tried before; would have required exertion; and should have triggered stricter health and safety processes.
Collins said it was her opinion, then, that “from the evidence, Efeso’s death could have been prevented”.
“It is too late for Efeso. He is gone now. He’s gone for good. But organisations like ChildFund and Campbell + Co must learn from this.”
Collins added the differing accounts of what had happened that day was “emotionally distressing and traumatising” for herself and her children.
“[An inquest] would mean I no longer have to investigate this on my own.”
She also criticised media for reporting on Efeso’s death before she was told.
Questions remain
Max Harris, the lawyer representing Collins, raised seven issues of concern, including that the family still had questions over the timeline surrounding the death. This included how long it took for medical aid to be administered and when Efeso was defibrillated.
He said he had recently seen CCTV footage of the incident that raised more questions about this timing.
Harris said it also was not clear where the defibrillator (AED) was found and who administered it — and that the CCTV had not clarified this point. He also questioned whether event organisers had considered participants’ medical history.
Coroner Janet Anderson said she had not seen this footage.
ChildFund’s response
Tania Goatley, the lawyer representing ChildFund, said the charity had followed all proper processes.
She said ChildFund had asked Campbell + Co to run the event given their event management experience.
It was designed as a fun event, and participants were joking and “pretended to run” while carrying two buckets that were a similar size to ones sold by Cookie Time, Goatley said.
As for what Harris had described as discrepancies in the timeline around Efeso’s death, she said ChildFund was clear appropriate procedures were followed: a nominated first responder delegated tasks, and then passed on to others with more medical experience as they arrived.
She said ChildFund had thought there was no dispute where the AED provided had come from. She said it was “from Britomart Station, which is in Commercial Bay in that area. Hence the description of Commercial Bay”.
Goatley said three people were sent to look for AEDs as event organisers were aware there were three located nearby. She said it did not show event organisers had a scattergun approach, rather, they were trying to “maximise the chances of survival”.
She added that AEDs were also designed to be able to be operated by anyone.
“A member of the public could have operated it but, in fact what happened, there was a senior medical person on site who did that on the day.”
Coroner Janet Anderson asked Campbell + Co director Vincent Sherry whether he had anything to add to Goatley’s comments.
Sherry said no. He was not accompanied by a lawyer.
Coroner Anderson said all interested parties had until April 30 to provide further information in relation to the issues raised today, including the CCTV footage Harris had mentioned.
She said she would then seek independent expert medical advice.
