The coastal community of Mount Maunganui remains in deep shock and mourning following the disappearance of 15-year-old Max Furse-Kee during a catastrophic landslide at the base of the iconic mountain on January 12. Witnesses who escaped the sudden collapse have given haunting accounts of the teenager’s final moments — urging others to run to safety while he himself had no time to flee.

The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. on a popular walking track near the mountain’s southern slope. Heavy rain in the preceding days had saturated the soil, and a section of the hillside gave way without warning, sending tonnes of earth, rocks, and trees crashing down toward the path below. Max, who was walking with a group of friends and family, was near the front of the group when the ground began to move.

Survivors say the roar was deafening — a deep, rumbling sound like thunder from beneath the earth. “It was like the mountain just opened up and swallowed everything,” one witness told local media. “We only had seconds. Max was the first to realize what was happening. He turned around and screamed at us, ‘Run! Run now!’ He pushed people forward, grabbed the arm of a younger kid who was frozen, and shoved him toward the safer side of the track.”

In those frantic seconds, Max’s shouts gave others the split-second warning they needed to scramble to higher ground or off the path. At least five people in the immediate group credit him with saving their lives. But as the landslide surged forward, Max was caught in the flow. Witnesses say he tried to climb a small rise to escape, but the debris was too fast and too heavy. “He looked back one last time, like he was making sure we were clear,” another survivor said, voice breaking. “Then he was gone. Just gone.”

Search and rescue teams, including specialist teams from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force, and local volunteers, have been working around the clock since the incident. Heavy machinery, drones, sniffer dogs, and ground teams have scoured the debris field, which covers several hundred metres of steep, unstable terrain. As of January 14, no trace of Max has been found, and hopes are fading as time passes and conditions remain hazardous.

Max Furse-Kee was described by friends, teachers, and family as “kind, funny, brave, and always looking out for others.” He was a talented student at Mount Maunganui College, played rugby for the school team, and was known for his quiet leadership among peers. His parents have asked for privacy while the search continues, but released a short statement: “Our boy was the light of our lives. He thought of others first, even in the worst moment. We are holding onto hope, but we know how brave he was.”

The Mount Maunganui community has rallied in support, with vigils held nightly at the base of the mountain. Hundreds have gathered with candles, flowers, and messages reading “Max, we’re still looking” and “Run free, hero.” Schools in the area have offered counselling, and local businesses have raised funds for the family.

Police and geologists continue to assess the slope for further risk of collapse, while the search remains active. Detective Inspector Sarah Roberts said: “We are doing everything possible to locate Max. The conditions are extremely challenging, but we will not give up.”

For a teenager who spent his last moments thinking of others, the image of his final act of bravery has become a symbol of courage in tragedy. As the search enters its third day, the plea from his family and community echoes across the Bay of Plenty: Max, if you can hear us — we’re still here, still looking. Come home.