Waimate family waits for answers

Johnny Sleigh
Johnny Sleigh
The Sleigh family expects an inquest will help answer some of their many questions about how and why former Waimate man Johnny Sleigh ended up in the River Thames.

London police have confirmed a body recovered from the river this week is that of the missing New Zealander.

His death was not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Sleigh (36), an engineering draughtsman, left a nightclub in Holborn about 1.20am on May 8 and was reported missing by his employer after he did not turn up for work the following Monday.

His parents, Peter and Caroline Sleigh, who farm near Waimate, have issued a statement on behalf of their family, which includes Mr Sleigh's brother David and sisters Catherine Booth, Meg Sleigh and Susie Chambers. They have asked for privacy.

The family said they were thankful Mr Sleigh had been found and they could now focus on bringing him home.

"We are very sad that our precious son is no longer with us. The days since Johnny went missing have been some of the most difficult in our lives as we waited for news from the other side of the world.

"We very much wanted Johnny to be found alive, but to our great sadness, this has not turned out to be the case.

"It is a parent's hope their child will return safely from travels abroad and a parent's nightmare that something happens while they are away."

Waitaki District Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen met Mr Sleigh at Canterbury University and they became very good friends.

"He was fantastic guy and will be sorely missed," he said.

Tributes to Mr Sleigh and messages of support for the Sleigh family were being posted on the Facebook page Please Help Us Find Johnny Sleigh.

Rebecca Milburn said Mr Sleigh was a "wonderful, caring person", while Jenny Thornhill said the world had lost a "truly wonderful guy".

Anais Kanakubo said he would dedicate his next marathon to Mr Sleigh who inspired him in running.

Paul Fletcher, from Geraldine, who knew Mr Sleigh through mutual friends, said he was a "real genuine down-to-earth nice guy".

Mr Sleigh, who was described last week by his sister, Catherine Booth, as a "typical Kiwi bloke", had been living in London for six years.

A marathon runner and cyclist, he was a strong, loyal and caring person "with so much to live for", his family said.

"We loved it when Johnny would come back to the family farm in Waimate to take a break from busy London."

The "amazing outpouring of care and support from around the globe" showed how special and loved Mr Sleigh was.

David Sleigh and Catherine Booth flew to London earlier this week, before his body was found.

They wanted to be closer to where their brother was last seen and to liaise with police face to face.

 

 

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