A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded in New Zealand’s picturesque Bay of Plenty, where a promising 15-year-old basketball prodigy, Max Furse-Kee, and his first love, girlfriend Sharon Maccanico, also 15, were buried alive together in a monstrous landslide that swallowed a beloved holiday campground whole—leaving shattered families demanding answers about how such a nightmare could strike without warning.

The nightmare erupted on January 22, 2026, when torrential rains unleashed hell on Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcanic cone famous for its stunning beaches and hiking trails. A massive slab of earth—tons of mud, rock, and debris—cascaded down the slopes of Mauao, slamming into the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park like a tidal wave of destruction. Campers enjoying the height of summer vacation had no time to flee. Tents, caravans, and cabins were obliterated in seconds, burying six innocent lives under a suffocating blanket of rubble.

Among them: Max and Sharon, two bright-eyed teenagers from Auckland’s Pakūranga College, inseparable sweethearts on a dreamy summer getaway with family. Just 15 years old, they were experiencing the intoxicating rush of young love—stolen glances, shared laughs, dreams of the future. Max, a towering talent on the basketball court, was already turning heads as a prodigy, clutching “player of the year” trophies and lighting up games with his skill and passion. Sharon, a keen dancer with a radiant smile, complemented him perfectly. Friends described them as the perfect pair, always together, bringing joy to everyone around.

But in one cruel instant, the mountain claimed them. Buried alive, entwined in tragedy, their young lives snuffed out before they could celebrate Max’s upcoming 16th birthday. On what should have been a day of cake, gifts, and teenage milestones, Max’s body was formally identified in a somber coroner’s hearing on January 28—his birthday—releasing it to a family torn apart by grief.

Max’s devastated mother, Hannah Furse, poured out her soul in a statement that has left the nation in tears: “He was my sunshine.” She called him an “incredible, kind, and beautiful human being,” a devoted son, big brother, grandson, nephew, friend, teammate, and boyfriend. “From the moment I first looked at his beautiful blue eyes almost 16 years ago, he had my whole heart,” she wept. “Just days ago, my biggest fear was him getting his driver’s license. How I wish now that he could have experienced the joy of driving, and so many other moments that growing up brings.”

Hannah spoke of Max’s unbreakable bond with his girlfriend Sharon: “His incredible friends and his girlfriend meant the world to him, and the love, happiness, and sense of belonging they gave him brought him so much joy.” The couple’s romance was the stuff of teenage fairy tales—pure, innocent, full of promise. Now, it’s a haunting epitaph: two souls lost together, buried alive under the very mountain they came to enjoy.

The other victims paint a mosaic of stolen lives: literacy coordinator Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, a dedicated teacher from Morrinsville; Swedish traveler Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, exploring the world; and longtime friends Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler and Susan Doreen Knowles, both 71, from Rotorua and Ngongotaha, whose annual camping tradition ended in horror.

Police shifted from rescue to grim recovery days after the slide, confirming no survivors were likely. Human remains were located amid the chaos, with Max’s body the first formally identified. The site remains a dangerous moonscape—unstable slopes, deep mud, relentless rain—hampering efforts as heavy machinery claws through the debris.

As vigils light up Mount Maunganui with flowers, candles, and prayers, families are left raging for the truth. How could this happen at a popular, family-friendly spot? Warnings of landslide risks had surfaced in the past—previous closures on the mountain due to instability—but was enough done to protect visitors? Community leaders and grieving relatives demand a full investigation: Were signs ignored? Was the campground adequately monitored amid extreme weather? Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended a solemn gathering, acknowledging the “heaviness” gripping the area.

Givealittle pages have exploded with donations, raising tens of thousands for the shattered families. Max’s fund supports his mother Hannah and siblings; Sharon’s aids her heartbroken parents. Tributes flood social media: uncles posting birthday messages that rip at the soul, classmates mourning two vibrant lives cut short, coaches remembering a basketball star whose potential will never shine on professional courts.

Pakūranga College reels from the double blow—two beloved students gone. “Our community is grieving with you,” local leaders have said. “These were two young people with their whole lives ahead of them, taken far too soon in the most unimaginable way.”

The image haunts: Max and Sharon, just 15, buried alive with his first love, their futures erased by a mountain’s merciless roar. A summer holiday turned eternal nightmare. As recovery drags on and questions mount, one thing is clear—this tragedy is a stark reminder of nature’s fury and the fragility of young dreams. Max’s light, his mother’s sunshine, extinguished forever. The families’ cry for truth echoes louder than the landslide itself: Why them? Why now? And could it have been prevented?