- A young jockey, aged 18, has tragically passed away in a motorbike accident
- The incident took place on Wednesday, while two others were injured
- A Givealittle page has been set up to support his family
An 18-year-old jockey has tragically died in a dirt bike accident.
New Zealand rider Ngakau Hailey passed away following a collision with a car in Hamilton on Wednesday.
The incident took place at the crossroads between Willoughby Street and Mill Street at around 3.25pm.
The young rider, who has been described as ‘a lovable kid’ and had ‘the sky ahead of him’, suffered critical injuries in the accident and was rushed to hospital, where he later passed away.
Local reports say two other individuals suffered moderate injuries in the crash and were also taken to hospital.
New Zealand rider Ngakau Hailey died following a collision with a car in Hamilton on Wednesday
The 18-year-old was described as a promising jockey who had ‘the sky ahead of him’
‘It’s tragic, words just can’t describe it. I was talking with him on Monday and then this happens,’ Thoroughbred Racing Northern Riding Master, Noel Harris, told Love Racing NZ.
Hailey had worked as an apprentice to trainer Debbie Sweeney.
The promising jockey won multiple races for the Te Awamutu trainer, and recorded his first-ever victory aboard Chattahoochee at Cambridge back in 2023.
His last race came on July 5 at Tauranga aboard Magna Kata.
Sweeney told Stuff that his passing would be a ‘massive’ loss to the horse racing community.
‘He was just a great kid, lovable kid. Had a great personality,’ she said.
Te Akau Racing trainer David Ellis told the outlet that Hailey was ‘a super young man’.
He added: ‘The sky was ahead of him.’
He was also an avid rugby league player, with Waikato Junior Rugby League publishing tributes to him online
Shaun Phelan, a former jockey who now works as a trainer, said that a minute’s silence had been held for the young man at Cambridge on Thursday.
The youngster was a passionate rugby league player, who had ambitions to play in the NRL. He is understood to have played hooker for local club, Hamilton City Tigers.
The Waikato Junior Rugby League team published a tribute to the 18-year-old on Facebook.
They wrote: ‘Rugby league community is sad to hear the passing of Ngakau Hailey . Such a talented young league player and a young boy who loved giving anything and everything a go.
‘The Waikato Rugby League community send our love and condolences to Ngakau’s whanau and many many friends.
The statement added: ‘Rest with the best Ngakau may you forever rest in loving peace.’
A Givealittle page has been created by a friend of Hailey’s family and has raised over NZ$21,000 to help support his family through the tragedy.
‘A naturally gifted young man with a bright future taken away from us so soon,’ the Givealittle page read.
