Jet-boater farewelled at Paradise

Deana Insley speaks about her late husband, Duayne, at his memorial service in Paradise on Sunday...
Deana Insley speaks about her late husband, Duayne, at his memorial service in Paradise on Sunday. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The Glenorchy man killed while navigating a world championship jet-boat last week was farewelled at a memorial service in Paradise on Sunday.

Duayne Barry Insley (47) was killed instantly when a log hanging over a riverbank struck him during a leg of the World Championship Jetboat Marathon in Canterbury on October 15.

About 300 people attended his farewell held in a marquee at the Paradise Trust property, many in gumboots and sitting on hay bales.

Speakers described him as a kind man who would readily help others, but did not suffer fools.

His wife, Deana, said her heart was broken, but she was ``overwhelmed'' by the outpouring of support and grief.

``It's going to take many, many years to get over this, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here.''

Affectionately known as Dweeb, Mr Insley was an owner-operator of horse trekking business High Country Horses, and a keen hunter and jet-boater.

Mrs Insley said her husband had a great sense of humour, and once got her attention by racing her on horseback in pitch darkness to the Glenorchy pub.

When she beat him he countered, ``I said in the pub, not outside it'', and rode inside.

``The barman was so impressed he said, `You deserve a beer', and poured him a pint.''

They packed a lifetime of memories into their 10 years together, she said.

``There are marriages out there that've celebrated 50 years, but haven't done half as much as we did.''

His stepdaughter, Casey Irvine, thanked him for teaching her how to shoot her first deer.

``And thank you for looking out for me and teaching me life skills.''

Members of the jet-boat community, who finished the world championships in Queenstown on Saturday, said the sport had lost a ``great man''.

Mr Insley is also survived by his daughter Evee and step-children Casey and James.

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