Remembering Flynn McBride: Northland man dies in crash before 21st birthday

His mother Miriam Guthrie was at an AGM in their hometown of Dargaville when her cellphone rang. She ignored the call.

When the same number phoned again, she picked up. On the other end was a police officer, saying they needed to speak in person.

When she arrived home, she discovered it was about her son.

Until McBride was identified at Whangārei Hospital, Miriam held on to a small hope that somehow it wasn’t him.

The loss was devastating for a family who had watched the 20-year-old plan for his future.

She said he had big dreams of becoming a police dog handler and had already filled out an application.

Miriam and stepfather Steve Guthrie agreed it was the type of career that would have suited him.

In later years, he developed an interest in cars and was weeks away from completing an apprenticeship as an automotive technician when he died.

Miriam last saw her son three days before the crash, when they met to look at land she hoped to buy for him to put a tiny home on.

McBride arrived in his Hilux, mud splashed up the sides, and Miriam sat with him while they waited for the agent.

“I’m just so grateful that I actually had that last bit of time with him. Just me and him ... I gave him a hug and an ‘I love you’.”

Miriam described her son as a “complete ball of energy” growing up. He spent his childhood fishing, playing football, rugby and motocross.

He loved chasing adventure and was always on the lookout for the next exciting thing, she said.

“I was always just like, ‘What’s he doing now? Where is he? What’s he up to?’.”

The loss was particularly devastating for Miriam, who lost McBride’s father when her son was a toddler.

She and Steve credited their Catholic faith with helping them through their grief.

“You don’t think it’s going to happen to your family,” Steve said of McBride’s unexpected death.

It wasn’t until McBride’s funeral that Miriam and Steve realised how many friends he had made over the years.

Steve said McBride seemed to have a mission to bring love, light and joy to people.

“ ... When they think of Flynn, they’d always have a laugh or fond memory of him.

“No one had the personality of Flynn,” he said.

“You know, you could hear his truck or his stereo blaring up the road, and as soon as he arrived, he would just be the life of the party.”

Usually wearing Red Bands and with his partner by his side, he would walk in with a swagger, ready to crack jokes and lend a helping hand.

McBride had spoken to his Oma and Opa about popping the question to his partner but had wanted to get a nice ring first.

“I was so excited about the future we were building,” his partner said. She did not want to be named.

“I wanted to be the person who made him a dad because he was so good with kids, and I knew we would have made a really good family.”

As a partner, McBride was encouraging, she said.

“He believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

She was grieving the ordinary moments they once shared and the major life milestones they would never experience together.

“I truly was excited to grow old with him.”

Miriam and Steve expressed their gratitude to the community for the outpouring of support after McBride’s death.

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