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An aerial shot of the destroyed CTV building - Source: ONE News
Rescue workers at the collapsed site of Canterbury Television (CTV) building - Source: Reuters
Four victims of the Christchurch earthquake will never be formally identified.
But one family, at least, has found some relief.
Shawn Lucas, a 40-year-old production manager, was in the Canterbury Television (CTV) building when the February 22 quake hit.
His wife, Maree, told The Press the family had found some closure since the police said they would not be able to formally identify him.
"Since then it's been a lot better. We know they're finished. We're not expecting someone to turn up at our doorway night or day telling us ..."
Nothing of Lucas was recovered from the ruined building. "It would have been lovely to get something back; something that he was wearing," Maree Lucas said.
The other three unidentified people were also in the CTV building:
Rhea Mae Sumalpong, 25, of the Philippines (a female Australian resident). She was studying at the King's Education language school and wanted to register as a nurse in New Zealand.
Elsa Torres De Frood, 53, director of studies at King's Education, who was shown to be in the building partly through the discovery of her wedding ring in the wreckage.
Valeri Volnov, 41, of Russia (a male New Zealand resident), and a CTV information technology systems operator. His phone recorded 30 texts and calls in the hours after the quake.
Maree Lucas said life was "very hectic still. There seems to be something going on every week and the week just goes, but when things quieten down, then it might be a bit harder".
The pair married in 1992 and have two teenage children. "They're coping all right," she said.
Acting Chief Coroner Gordon Matenga and Inspector Mark Harrison said yesterday the disaster victim identification (DVI) work had been completed.
"Any traces of DNA have been destroyed by the extremely high temperatures caused by the fire in the CTV building," he said.
"Despite extensive and exhaustive efforts, we have been unable to return any remains of their loved ones to these families, but we have been able to issue inquest findings that will help them complete the formalities required."
Harrison met the victims' families last week.
"I sat with these families last week and explained to them that we have been unable to do so. They appreciated that police and the other people working with us had spent the last six months doing everything we could to identify them," he said.
"We are now working with the families and the Christchurch City Council to ensure an appropriate memorial for these four victims is established."
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