Jamie enjoyed surfing the biggest waves New Zealand had ever seen off the Catlins, just south of Dunedin.

He is believed to have died in the water during standard surfing after being knocked unconscious by his surfboard.

The Project’s Patrick Gower spoke with his proud sister and fellow surfer, Tash, about this humble legend known for his fearlessness. She described him as a dedicated surfer.

“The number of trips he made himself, to his favorite place, took about an hour and a half to get there, but he would go there alone after work and then drive home, he was completely dedicated to just nailing that wave.”

Tash said his brother was an underground loader due to his ability to surf.

“Someone who is so good but will never tell everyone about it. He’s just going to do his thing for love. Not for accolades or anything like that.”

Tash said that when he was barrel surfing, Jamie would always come up with a smile on his face, even when knocked down.

“He sometimes got bounced off the bottom, went up with a smile on his face and got picked up and had another try.”

On the day of her death, Tash was nearby but never got to say goodbye to her. Rescuers tried CPR and even a defibrillator, but Jamie was gone. Tash saw people gathering on the beach and knew her brother couldn’t make it.

“I didn’t see him at first, I just saw people on the beach and knew from then on he was gone so I just went to lay down with him.”

Jamie spoke to NZ Surf Journal a few weeks before his death about being a dad and teaching his family to surf.

“On beach days with the umbrella and the family, these two are going to learn to surf.”

Tash said his brother was an amazing surfer but an even better dad.

“Oh he did so much for them, it was amazing to see him as a dad like he was the surf man, but was the man the man to be a dad.”

Tash said he will be remembered by the surfing community as “a humble, generous, kind loader – hahaha a barrel hunter”.

Tributes to the devoted dad have been paid to Aramoana, but it is at sea that he is truly respected. Tash wants everyone to know what an awesome guy Jamie was.

“We just want to put him out there and say ‘look at this guy, look at what he’s capable of’ and I secretly think he’ll be thrilled.”