“A Final Act of Love Beneath the Earth” — Teen Basketball Phenom Max Furse-Kee and His Girlfriend Di-e After Being Trapped Alive in Mount Maunganui Landslide, as New Doubts Emerge
A teenage couple enjoying the final, carefree days of summer with their families have been identified among the victims of the devastating Mount Maunganui landslide that has shaken New Zealand.
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Pakūranga College students Sharon Maccanico and Max Furse-Kee, both just 15 years old, were today confirmed as victims of Thursday morning’s fatal slip, a tragedy that has left their families, school community, and the wider public reeling with grief.
The pair were holidaying with family in the Bay of Plenty when the landslide struck mid-morning on Thursday, just days before the new school year was set to begin. What was meant to be a joyful break — filled with sun, laughter, and time together — ended in sudden and unimaginable loss.
Friends and loved ones have since been sharing memories of Sharon and Max, describing them as inseparable, kind-hearted, and full of promise. Social media posts from Max’s accounts paint a tender picture of teenage love and everyday happiness: the two smiling over pizza dinners in Auckland, walking side by side along the beach, soaking in sunny weather and each other’s company. Ordinary moments that now feel heartbreakingly precious.
Those images have struck a particularly painful chord with the public, serving as a reminder of how young the pair were — children on the brink of adulthood, excited for what lay ahead. Family members say the couple had been looking forward to returning to school, reconnecting with friends, and planning for the year ahead, unaware that their lives would be cut tragically short.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after the slip was reported, launching a major response amid dangerous and unstable conditions. Despite the efforts of rescuers, the outcome was devastating. Authorities have since described the incident as a rare but deadly natural event, while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
Pakūranga College has expressed deep sorrow at the loss of two of its students, offering counselling and support services to classmates and staff struggling to process the news. Tributes have poured in from students, teachers, and parents, many describing Sharon and Max as bright, respectful, and well-loved within the school community.
“This is the kind of tragedy you never expect to touch your own family or school,” one parent said. “They were just kids, enjoying their holiday, doing nothing wrong.”
As Mount Maunganui residents lay flowers and messages near the site, calls are growing for answers about the conditions that led to the fatal slip, with grieving families seeking clarity and accountability in the wake of their loss.
For now, however, the focus remains on remembering Sharon Maccanico and Max Furse-Kee not for the way they died, but for the love they shared and the lives they were only just beginning to live — two teenagers whose summer ended far too soon
