SUPPLIED/Western Leader
Jason Wynyard captured nine senior world championship durring his wood chopping career.
Kiwi wood chopping icon Jason Wynyard has died aged 49 after succumbing to an aggressive form of cancer.
Wynyard, a nine-time world champion in timber sports, was diagnosed with stage four Burkitt Lymphoma – a rare form of cancer that affects the lymphatic system – in May this year and immediately began chemotherapy.
However, by August, doctors had informed him and his partner Sharon that the treatment had been unsuccessful and he only had weeks to live.
Wynyard – the father of Tall Black basketballer Tai – turned to alternative remedies in his final days but died overnight.
Tributes to the celebrated axeman were soon posted on social media.
“It is with immense sadness we share our loss with you at the passing of our taonga Jason Wynyard in the early hours of this morning,” a statement read on the Ngāti Manu Facebook page.
“He will be returning to Karetu Marae, details of his arrival are yet to me confirmed.
“E te rangatira e Jason takoto mārika koe.”
Born in the Bay of Islands, Wynyard first picked up an axed aged six, encouraged by his late father, Pae, who had himself been an accomplished wood chopper.
He turned professional in 1996 and went on to become a dominant force in the world of timber sports, winning the prestigious Stihl Timbersports Series 14 times alongside more than 265 career titles.
Wynyard was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the sport of wood chopping in the 2017 New Year Honours.
In his final social media post a week ago, Wynyard paid a heartfelt tribute to his parner Sharon, calling her the “love of my life”.
