Quad-bike tourist killed in crash in NZ had juggled two jobs to save for trip

The parents of a backpacker killed in a quad-bike crash in New Zealand have told how she had saved up for the trip of a lifetime by having two jobs.

Sarah Bond, described by her family as ‘one of life’s enthusiasts’, should have been travelling around New Zealand and Australia for ten months but tragedy struck yesterday, only two weeks into her adventure.

The 23-year-old, from Ilford, East London, died when the machine she was riding plunged down a steep bank near Waitomo on North Island.

She had been taking part in a quad-bike tour, visiting the popular Waitomo Caves.

She lost control of the bike near Te Anga, about 20 miles from the cave, where it is believed there had been heavy rainfall.

Speaking at the family home, her devastated mother Elizabeth, 51, said: ‘Sarah was one of life’s great enthusiasts. We all went to see her off at Heathrow when she left. She was so excited about this trip, she was so full of life.

‘We are very proud of Sarah. She worked so hard and was so determined to go. It’s so tough for all of us right now but we are blessed with wonderful friends and family.’

Sarah had two jobs and had saved for more than a year to go on her trip of a lifetime.

During the day she worked for Barclays Bank in their corporate finance department in the City and in the evening she was a barmaid at a local pub.

She had not attended university because she wanted a career as soon as she left school, hoping one day that she would be able to pay for her dream: to go travelling.

Mrs Bond added: ‘We’re like any family who have lost someone so loved. She was so full of life and adventure – why else would you go out there with just a backpack?’

Sarah’s heartbroken father Jack, 55, said: ‘Sarah was such a great girl. She was really determined and such an independent girl. She worked all hours to make this trip a reality. We don’t regret her going but obviously we regret that this accident happened, just two weeks into her trip.

‘We never tried to discourage her from going. When she got a bee in her bonnet about something, she was so focused at making it happen. She knew what she wanted and went for it. We’re extremely proud of her.’

Sarah had obtained working visas for New Zealand and Australia and was due to leave New Zealand to fly on to Sydney at the end of November.

While in New Zealand she had joined the Kiwi Experience, a round-the-country coach trip designed especially for backpackers, with stop-offs at towns throughout both the North and South islands.

Sarah was the middle one of three sisters: Caroline is 25 and Alexandra is the youngest at 18.

Yesterday a constant stream of distraught family and friends called at the family’s £200,000 four-bedroom terrace house.

Neighbour Joyce Medley said: ‘I’ve known Sarah since she was a baby. Obviously we are all devastated. It was only ten days ago that she held a leaving party before flying out to New Zealand.

‘She was a lovely, self-confident girl. She would do anything and she had decided to travel on her own. It was a brave thing to do.’

New Zealand police said Sarah’s death had been referred to the coroner and a Serious Crash Unit was investigating the incident.