A local family is grateful for the support it’s received from emergency services and the community after their teenage son was burned in a freak accident recently.

Fourteen-year-old Year 9 Mount Aspiring College student Hunter Shuker received burns to 60 per cent of his body in the late September accident. 

He was flown by helicopter from Lake Hāwea to Christchurch Hospital where he spent time in the ICU. He is now in the Children’s High Care Unit.

Hunter is in significant pain and must endure dressing changes under anaesthesia.

Jimmy and Stacey Shuker have been told their son will require extensive rehabilitation and support as he recovers. This included treatment in Christchurch and may also include travel to Dunedin for further treatment, specialist physio & counselling sessions.

A Givealittle page set up by family friend Claire Walker to help with expenses has raised more than $30,000.

Claire described the Shukers as “hard workers who are never out for a handout”. 

Another family friend told the Wānaka App the Shukers are very grateful for the support and they now have what they need to support Hunter.

She said they will donate any funds they don’t use to the services which helped Hunter and services he is currently using, including the local St John ambulance service, air ambulance service and Ronald McDonald House.

“They are all so impressed by the first responders, both ambulance and helicopter, and again, very thankful,” the friend told the Wānaka App.

“Hunter's recovery is going very well, and they're hoping he'll be home by the end of school holidays. Obviously there will still be a long way to go afterwards, but things are looking good right now.”