A New Zealand Post staff member who died while working in Tawa on December 30 was Sam Kelman, of Wellington, New Zealand. Family members posted a tribute on social media confirming Kelman, 31, was the victim of the incident, which happened on Lyndhurst Rd when his electric buggy rolled down a bank. It has been noted that Sam was a cricket aficionado and he was recently honored with a cricket match. His passion for cricket and his team – North City Heavy Hitters based in Tawa was seen in a match.
New Zealand’s Sam Kelman was honored with a cricket match
Unfortunately, Sam Kelman could not witness the match. Kelman, 31, died in what is being described as a freak accident on his round in Tawa, New Zealand on December 30. His team took to the field against Kilbirnie’s East Smoking Pineapples at Porirua’s Ngāti Toa Domain wearing armbands in his honor and watched from the sidelines by 40-odd family and friends of Kelman’s.
It was also noted that his family planned to put him in his coffin holding the cricket ball he delivered his best-ever game of cricket with. His funeral was held on Friday. Both teams observed a minute of silence for Kelman at the start of the game.
Sam’s stepbrother Luke Kelman bowled the first ball of the innings on Saturday wearing Sam’s top. The grieving family got delivered a stellar display from his former team, which beat the Kilbirnie side in 9½ overs of the 20-over game with nine wickets in hand.
“It was a great way to see Sam out,” club chairman Eliott Brookes said. Family, friends, and the opposing team stayed late into the evening after the game for a barbecue in Kelman’s honour.
A statement from his mother Tracy Harwood, and sister Ellie Kelman said the game was a loving tribute. “We can imagine him being very serious about the rules of the game and putting in his best effort each time. It was great to see Sam’s brother Luke take the first honorary bowl with his brother’s team shirt on. We can understand how team sports bring a sense of belonging to people and this we imagine this was the most important thing to Sam..”
