In a gut-wrenching twist that has shocked travelers worldwide, a 20-year-old Swedish adventurer who flew halfway around the globe for the adventure of a lifetime was formally identified as the second victim of the deadly Mount Maunganui landslide – his body recovered from the mud-choked ruins of a holiday park after only two days in paradise turned nightmare.

Måns Loke Bernhardsson, a vibrant young man described by his devastated family as a “super kind and loveable” soul, had hastily booked the trip with two close friends, eager to explore New Zealand’s stunning North and South Islands in a campervan. What began as an exhilarating backpacking journey ended in tragedy on January 22, 2026, when relentless rain saturated the volcanic slopes of Mauao (Mount Maunganui), unleashing a massive wall of earth, boulders, and debris that smashed into the Beachside Holiday Park at 9:30 a.m., burying caravans, tents, and lives beneath an unstoppable avalanche.

Måns had checked into the popular campground just 48 hours earlier, soaking up the summer vibes of Mount Maunganui’s golden beaches and laid-back coastal charm. He never got the chance to venture further – his dream holiday cut short in the most brutal way imaginable. Coroner Louella Dunn confirmed his identity at a somber Tauranga District Court hearing on January 29, ruling that remains recovered on January 24 matched through forensic evidence. With the identification complete, his body was released to his family for repatriation, but the pain ripples far beyond Sweden.

His father and uncle released a heartbreaking statement: “Måns was a super kind and loveable member of our family. He loved New Zealand and was so excited about his adventure here.” The words underscore the cruel irony – a young tourist who came seeking beauty and freedom, only to become forever trapped in the mud of a foreign land.

The landslide claimed six lives in total, turning a sunny holiday spot into a scene of unimaginable devastation. First formally identified was 15-year-old Max Furse-Kee on what would have been his 16th birthday; Måns became the second. The others – 15-year-old Sharon Maccanico (Max’s girlfriend), literacy tutor Lisa Anne Maclennan (50, hailed as a hero for warning others), and longtime friends Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler and Susan Doreen Knowles (both 71) – remain in various stages of identification amid ongoing recovery efforts hampered by unstable terrain and persistent rain.

Search teams battled treacherous conditions for days, shifting from desperate rescue to grim body recovery as hope faded. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson had warned early that survival beneath the debris was “unlikely,” a prediction tragically proven correct. The slip struck without mercy, demolishing the campground’s toilet and shower block, crushing structures, and leaving survivors screaming for help as mud swallowed everything in its path.

Måns’ story has struck a particularly raw nerve internationally. A backpacker on a whirlwind OE (overseas experience), he represented countless young travelers who flock to New Zealand each year for its epic landscapes and sense of freedom. His friends – who were traveling with him – are left shattered, grappling with the sudden void where their companion once stood. Social media tributes flood in from around the world: photos of smiling group shots in campervans, scenic stops along the way, and messages of condolence in Swedish and English. “He came for adventure and found only tragedy,” one viral post laments. “Two days in paradise – then gone forever.”

Vigils have sprung up across New Zealand and beyond – candles flickering in Mount Maunganui, floral tributes piling up near the cordoned-off site, and online memorials where strangers share prayers for a family oceans away. Fundraising efforts for all victims’ families continue to surge, with donors leaving notes like “For the traveler who never made it home” and “Rest in peace, Måns – your Kiwi dream lives on in our hearts.”

The disaster has ignited furious debate: Why was the campground not evacuated after an earlier small slip was reported at 5:48 a.m.? Fire and Emergency New Zealand alerted the council, yet no action followed. Walking tracks on the mountain were closed at 8:56 a.m. due to instability, but the holiday park remained open – a fatal oversight? Authorities promise full reviews of land-use safety, early-warning systems, and extreme-weather protocols, but for Måns’ loved ones, no inquiry can bring back the son, brother, and friend who boarded a plane full of excitement and never returned.

As recovery drags on under gray skies, the image of a young Swede who arrived seeking wonder but found only doom haunts every update. He came for a holiday – beaches, roads, freedom – and never left. Weeks away from turning 21, his story ends not with birthday cheers, but with a coroner’s ruling and a family’s endless grief.

In the shadow of Mauao, where mud still clings and scars remain, New Zealand mourns a visitor who became part of its tragedy. Six lives stolen. One heartbreaking confirmation at a time. And for Måns Loke Bernhardsson, the adventure that promised everything delivered only an eternal, unwanted stay.