'Amazing soul': Whakaari/White Island nurse killed in car crash

Wednesday, 18 December 2019

Nurse Sheila Cheng was killed and her husband critically injured following a crash near Lake Rotoiti.

An 'exceptional' nurse, who spent days treating burns victims following the Whakaari eruption tragedy, was killed in a car crash over the weekend.

Despite bystanders' attempts to revive her, 51-year-old Sheila Cheng, an ICU nurse at Whakatāne Hospital, died at the scene following the crash near Lake Rotoiti on Saturday.

Cheng had been doing long hours caring for victims of the Whakaari/White Island eruption.

Her husband, 49-year-old Rhys Bugden, is recovering from critical injuries in Waikato Hospital.

Cheng had worked massive hours following the Whakaari tragedy, constantly putting herself last, her mother-in-law Pam Greenhalgh told Stuff.

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'Sheila had a few hours off on Saturday,' Greenhalgh said. 'She had worked herself into the ground. She didn't care about herself, she didn't care how long it took. She just helped person after person and tried to ease their suffering.

'She worked long, long, long overtime hours to help the victims of Whakaari. She couldn't do enough. She was tough … She came last. If anyone needed her, she was unimportant.

'Although I never actually saw her nursing, I knew that she was going to be one of the best. She had that deep compassion.

'I can't fault her. She was so passionate and loved and giving.'

A police investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash are ongoing.

The couple had been on an outing with friends when it happened, Greenhalgh said.

From the back seat of the car, Bugden and Cheng took the brunt of the impact.

'It shattered me, it just shattered me,' Greenhalgh said. 'I thought if this is a dream wake me up, this can't be happening. At that stage I didn't know there had been a death.'

After two surgeries, doctors asked Greenhalgh to tell her son about his wife's death.

'I said I can't,' Greenhalgh recalled, tearfully. 'But half an hour later Rhys looked me in the eye and said, where is Sheila? I said I'm sorry she didn't make it.'

Cheng was undoubtedly her son's 'soul mate'.

'They knew. They just knew.

'They were married for four years, it was so short … They loved each other so much. The way they spoke to each other, the way they held hands, they way they did everything together. The way they included me in that love. It was just something beautiful.'

While some daughter-in-laws made it difficult for sons and mothers to be close, Cheng had become a daughter to Greenhalgh.

'She kind of knew that she wasn't just marrying Rhys, she was kind of marrying me too.

'From then on, I was part of that marriage, really. We did everything together.

'She was just such a good good person.'

A Givealittle page, created by friend Amanda Lorin, had been set up to help her husband and family, while Bugden recovered from extensive injuries.

'Our darling friend Sheila Cheng was tragically killed in a car accident in Rotoiti,' Lorin wrote on the page.

'[Sheila] was an amazing soul who was front and centre during the Whakaari/White Island tragedy only days beforehand.'

Sheila's death and Ryhs' injuries were the family's 'worst nightmare', especially in the lead up to Christmas.

'Their family is being hit with a double tragedy just before [Christmas], any kindness spared during this time would be much appreciated.'

Greenhalgh said the family don't want to hear the words 'Merry Christmas'.

She's planning Cheng's funeral, alongside helping her son, who is grieving his wife, recover from devastating injuries.

Greenhalgh is trying to make sure her son can be at Cheng's funeral, even if he's in a wheelchair.

'He needs to say goodbye.'

Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the crash and hasn't yet spoken with police.

Anyone with information can call 105 and quote file number 191215/5008.