A British backpacker, Joseph Snode, aged 26, died in a single-vehicle crash on the Otira Highway while on his way to Christchurch, New Zealand. Before travelling to New Zealand, he had spent four years working at the University of Buckingham in order to finance his trip. Snode had visited the Hobbiton movie set, as well as other locations where Lord of the Rings was filmed. His family has received more than £9,000 in donations to assist in the repatriation of his body to the UK and to fund his funeral.
In the weeks leading up to the accident, Snode had been in Japan and had met his “soulmate.” The circumstances surrounding the crash are not known, but it involved a single vehicle. Snode’s mother, Elaine, wrote on a fundraising page, “He was literally living his dream life before it was taken from him.” She described her son as “one in a billion” – a young man who was always full of life and was caring, loving, and intelligent.
Snode’s mother also wrote, “Nothing can express the pain and despair that is being felt by his family and friends all over the world.” Many of his friends around the world have shared their wonderful stories and photos, helping to support his family in these difficult times. A spokesperson for the New Zealand Police offered condolences to Snode’s friends and family during this difficult time.
The family has been overwhelmed and honored by the response to the fundraising efforts, and more donations continue to come in. Many donors have left comments on the page, expressing their gratitude to Snode for the joy and happiness he brought to their lives. The loss of such a young, vibrant man has left his community devastated, but they are determined to ensure that his memory lives on
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