A quadbike crash in South Otago last night claimed the life of a ''marvellous young man'' recently appointed the head boy of the Catlins Area School.
Balclutha police today named the deceased as Rowan Cai Parker (16).
Emergency services were called to a farm property in the Chaslands area about 7pm last night following reports one of three motorbike riders had lost control and driven over a cliff between Marks Bay and Wallace Bay.
Rowan's body was later winched from rocks 150m below the farm trail.
School principal Alex MacCreadie said the community was ''shellshocked . . . no-one expected this, it is one of those terrible accidents.
Rowan was named the head boy for next year at the school, which has 180 pupils, at a prizegiving last month.
''He was thrilled he was very much looking forward to it.
''I had a marvellous young man who was just starting to stride out and do some wonderful things . . . and now I don't.''
Mr MacCreadie said he had visitied the close-knit family, who were ''absolutely devastated''.
Inquiries are continuing into the crash, and the case has been referred to the coroner.
