Bodies of NZ couple killed in freak accident discovered a week later
The bodies of a New Zealand couple have been discovered on their tourist boat in Tonga, a week after a tragic accident claimed their lives.
Ben Rocky Neill, 47, and his wife Rochelle Neill, 48, owned a snorkelling business on the idyllic main island of Vava’u and were making repairs on the boat when they were electrocuted.
The deaths occurred in the waterfront village of ‘Utungake during Tonga’s strict Covid lockdown, and their partially decomposed bodies were discovered by a friend roughly a week later.
Tragically, they were hoping to sell the boat and use the money to return to New Zealand, a fundraiser for the family revealed.
Mrs Neill’s brother posted a tribute on Facebook, saying it was a “blessing” that they were together when they died.
“RIP My sister Rochelle and her husband Ben Neil. Yous were happy together and a blessing you both went together. Well Rochelle you will be finally able to see dad and I bet he'll have his arms open for you Rochelle. Rest in peace Rochelle and Ben, yous will be missed,” he wrote.
Deputy Police Commissioner Community Assurance Tēvita Vailea told local newspaper Matangi Tonga the couple “were believed to have lived by themselves” at their resort home.
The outlet reported the bodies were partially decomposed, and were buried immediately after the coronial inquest on the advice of a doctor.
Mr and Mrs Neill purchased the tourism business, called Hakau Adventures, in 2017.
The tragedy comes after Tonga suffered through a tsunami sparked by a volcanic eruption in January – a disaster that claimed four lives and cut the island nation off from the rest of the world for weeks after undersea internet cables were ravaged.
In the aftermath, as help arrived from overseas, the country’s first Covid cases emerged which quickly ballooned and led to strict lockdowns and limited access to and from the islands.
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