Pilot farewelled as identification process continues

Hot balloon pilot Lance Hopping packed a lot into his 53 years, including meeting his father late in life.

Mr Hopping, who was at the helm of the balloon that crashed near Carterton on Saturday, killing all 11 on board, was reunited 17 years ago with his terminally ill father Martin, who travelled from Australia in search of his long-lost son.

"They made up for the years apart and spent as much time together as they could," Mr Hopping's three sisters said in a statement issued by police last night.

Sadly, Mr Hopping did not get a chance to meet his sixth grandchild, who was born two weeks ago in Sydney.

"Lance was a great brother, he had a great loving relationship with his family and friends and there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for anyone," his sisters said.

"He loved his Harley, he loved his helicopters and balloons and he loved to drive his car fast, but his greatest love was his family."

Mr Hopping, affectionately known as Hoppy, began flying helicopters about 20 years ago as a hobby after gaining his pilot's licence and dropped his children to school in his helicopter as a special treat.

Children Henare Hopping, 35, Hayley Hopping, 31, Dani Siemonek, 22, and fiancee Nina Kelynack described him as "really happy, vibrant, caring, big-hearted, with a good sense of humour and a cheeky grin".

"Everyone in Carterton knew Hoppy and he will be greatly missed. He is gone too soon."

His funeral will be held on Monday in Carterton.

Meanwhile, officers identifying the bodies of the victims have undergone compulsory sessions with a police psychologist.

"After an event like this we always go through trauma counselling," Wairarapa area commander Inspector Brent Register said.

He said about 18 officers from Wairarapa and around the Wellington police district had been involved in the disaster victim identification (DVI) process.

That process continues at Wellington mortuary, while the police family liaison unit will continue to deliver news of positive identification to the families of unidentified victims.

Four of the 11 bodies have been formally identified – Mr Hopping, Wellington couple Johannes Jordaan, known as Chrisjan, 21, and girlfriend Alexis Still, 19, and Stephen Hopkirk, 50, of Lower Hutt.

Police and Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) scene examinations have concluded at the site and a container holding balloon wreckage was removed from the scene just after 1.30pm yesterday.
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The container was to be kept at a secure Wairarapa facility overnight and transported to TAIC's Wellington workshop today.

The site – a paddock on the Searle family farm – was then blessed with water, waiata, prayer and song by a group from Carterton's Hurunui-O-Rangi marae, with representatives from Wairarapa's two main iwi, and Carterton's St Mark's Church.

"It really marks the transition from a time and place where something dreadful happened to a time when the land returns to its usual use," the Rev Jenny Chalmers of St Mark's said.

The ceremony was attended by emergency services staff, air accident investigators, victims' family members, police, Somerset Rd residents and Victim Support staff.

Last updated 05:00 13/01/2012
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/6249947/Pilot-farewelled-as-identification-process-continues