The parents of a former champion British weightlifter who moved to New Zealand to "live his dream" are to have his body sent home after he collapsed and died in Dunedin last week.
The devastated parents of Kenneth Walkington - a Kingsthorpe, Northhampton, delivery driver who moved to Dunedin 18 months ago with his wife of three years, Tracey - told English newspaper the Northhampton Chronicle their son died of heart failure.
Mr Walkington, a power lifter who trained at Les Mills Gym in Dunedin, won the Amateur British Bench Pressing Championships in 2006.
Otago Amateur Weightlifting Association head coach Soffie Rennie said Mr Walkington was a "lovely chap" who had always been willing to lend a hand to other power lifters in training.
"He was a big roundie fella with a lovely accent."
Mr Walkington had not competed in Dunedin, but the club had been trying to convince him to compete again after a shoulder injury, Mr Rennie said.
In the hours before his death, Mr Walkington complained to his mother, Dolly, that he was feeling "achey", but put it down to a heavy session at the gym, his mother told the Chronicle.
Mr Walkington was a model son, she told the newspaper.
"He never gave me any trouble at all. Everyone always said he was a gentle giant."
The 31-year-old had recently applied for a job as an IT manager at Victoria University in Wellington.
He had just returned from a visit to Wellington when he collapsed and died at his Dunedin home on Friday night, Senior Constable Rob Murray, of Dunedin, said.
"A lot of people think about doing things, but he had the determination to go out and live his dream," Ken Walkington, the dead man's father, said.
"As his dream became a possibility, he died.
We keep asking ourselves 'Why, why did it happen to him?' It is so heartbreaking."
Mr Walkington's father said he would pay the $26,000 for his son's body to be sent home. Tracey Walkington would make the trip, understood to be taking place this week, as well.
Snr Const Murray said Mr Walkington's death was referred directly from the hospital to the southern region coroner.
