South Marlborough Is Feeling The Loss Of A “Larger-Than-Life” Farmer Who Suddenly Died At The Weekend

South Marlborough is feeling the loss of a “larger-than-life” farmer who suddenly died at the weekend. 63 year old Seddon man Martin Pattie died at Omaka Aerodrome in Blenheim on Saturday afternoon after the gyrocopter he was piloting crashed. He was the sole occupant of the aircraft. Ward farmer Kevin Loe says the community is shaken at how these things can happen so unexpectedly. He says Martin Pattie was a larger-than-life enthusiastic farmer, always with a smile and a bit of humour and a very good president of our Flaxbourne A&P show. Police say the gyrocopter crash happened shortly before 1.20pm and that Pattie was the sole occupant of the aircraft, and that he had sadly died.