'Jesse's boys' grieve for a lost friend | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Jesse Howe was a "cheeky" teen who laughed a lot, conjured up mischief and was naturally talented at anything to which he turned his hand.

Yesterday friends of the 17-year-old John Paul College student gathered in their weekend hang-out downstairs at his house, remembering the good times they shared together.

The group didn't want to be identified individually, asking to be known only as "Jesse's boys".

One, who was friends with Jesse since Year 4 at primary school, said they had talked about the future.

"He wanted to do a carpentry apprenticeship and go on his OE to anywhere - Oktoberfest, a cruise," the teen said. "He was good at everything he did, naturally talented."

The boys talked of how he played volleyball, was in the chess and table tennis clubs at school, played the guitar and looked up song lyrics on the internet so he could learn them off by heart.

Jesse could do backflips on the trampoline - though once he banged his head - he was a practical joker, cheeky and laughed a lot. He was a fan of Katy Perry and Jack Johnson - he was due to see him in concert this year - and was "mean at Tetris".

The downstairs of his Hillcrest home was the boys' hangout, where they would spend each weekend watching movies.

Yesterday his friends took over the room as they prepared to farewell him at his funeral on Saturday.

Grieving John Paul College students are receiving support from staff and counsellors as they deal with Jesse's death. Those not able to concentrate on their studies have been given permission to stay at home.

The popular teenager, described as "a valuable future leader" by his principal, Patrick Walsh, died on Sunday minutes after doctors turned off his life support machine. He was one of 12 Rotorua students injured when the van in which they were returning to Rotorua from a party in Taupo crashed into a bank and flipped on State Highway 5 in the early hours of July 17.

Six of those injured were students from John Paul College.

Mr Walsh told The Daily Post many of the students were still struggling to cope with what had happened.

"A number of the students have seen the counsellor," he said. "They are still very subdued and very sad and reflective. They are devastated by Jesse's death. He'd been on life support for such a long time. It's hard for them to comprehend their ... mate has died."

The school had been through a lot since the crash, which left six of its students injured, Mr Walsh said. "It just seems to go on and on with no end in sight." 

Jesse was a popular student, liked by all he came into contact with. His funeral is due to be held at John Paul College. 

Meanwhile, another youth injured in the crash, Aaron Gourlay, has been moved from intensive care at Waikato Hospital to a ward as his condition improves.

The 12th person in the crash, previously unnamed, was Ben Raymond, of Tauranga, who was at Jesse's home yesterday, wearing a neck brace and with one arm in a sling.

Jesse is the third Rotorua student to die in the past five weeks following crashes in the region.

Reporoa College student Aaliyah Cara Mita died on July 5, her birthday, after suffering fatal injuries in a crash at Owhata.

On July 22, five Year 13 Rotorua Girls' High School students were injured in a car accident north of the Whakatane turnoff. Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner died  from her injuries.