'Not something you expect': Family await answers after 5-year-old dies in his sleep

No matter what mood you were in, you couldn’t help but smile when Jasper Meyer bounced into the room. 

That’s how the Rotorua 5-year-old’s grieving mother, Ann-Maree Edmunds, remembers her happy and cheeky little boy. 

She and father Joe Meyer are now cherishing their memories after Jasper died suddenly in his sleep overnight last Friday. 

The death of the Kawaha Point Primary School Year 1 pupil, who would have turned 6 on August 23, has been referred to a coroner to determine his cause of death. 

Edmunds said her son had experienced four seizures since he was born, occurring about once a year. 

She said doctors described them as “febrile convulsions” and told the family it was likely he would grow out of them. 

There was nothing different about Jasper’s day last Friday to indicate he was unwell, so for now the family are waiting for answers. 

Miracle boy 

Jasper Nathan Meyer was born during Covid-19 restrictions in Tauranga, where they lived for the first two years of his life. 

His parents described Jasper as their “miracle” baby. 

He was born nearly two months premature, and Edmunds said he surprised everyone by coming out “one foot first”. 

Jasper Meyer, 5, was an adored little boy who loved trucks. He died in his sleep last week. 

“He kicked his way out, and we have made the joke that he’s been running since day one.” 

He was supposed to spend two months in the special care baby unit but, after less than a month, he had grown to a healthy weight and was ready to go home. 

Talking to the Rotorua Daily Post about their son, Edmunds’ and Meyer’s faces light up for a brief moment through their grief as they recount funny story after funny story. 

They said Jasper was “straight up” with his teachers, often saying funny things to have them in stitches. He would also like to wind up his family. 

He would sing at the top of his lungs, making as much noise as possible, and wouldn’t stop no matter how hard they tried. Edmunds would eventually surrender and leave the room to get peace. 

Meyer said his son loved trucks, especially fire trucks, cars and going to the speedway with his uncle Matty. 

He would happily play outside in the cold with bare feet and adored messing around with his Tonka trucks in the impressive water feature at the Edmunds family’s home in Rotorua. 

Jasper Meyer, photographed a few weeks before he died suddenly in his sleep, is pictured polishing the fuel tank of a truck at his grandfather's work. He was to be taken in the same truck on his final ride before his funeral service. 

Just weeks before his death, Jasper was photographed polishing the fuel tank of a Western Star truck at his grandfather’s workplace. 

That same truck will be used today to take him on his final ride past his primary school and kindergarten, BestStart Kawaha Point, before his funeral service at the Rotorua Crematorium this afternoon. 

Edmunds said her son was described by many as an “old soul”, giving the example that one of his favourite foods was Turkish delight. 

Meyer said his boy “touched a lot of hearts”, and Edmunds agreed. 

“He was just so bright and happy. Not a single room he walked into that he didn’t put a smile on people’s faces. Even if you were having the worst day of your life, he would make you smile.” 

As they spent this week clinging to their memories of Jasper and preparing for his funeral, she said they were trying to be strong for other family members, including Jasper’s younger sister, Athena. 

Jasper Meyer (right) was born prematurely during Covid-19 restrictions. His sister Athena (left) was born a few years later, also premature, after a cryptic pregnancy. 

Athena, 2, was also born prematurely after a cryptic pregnancy. “I had no idea I was pregnant until I had her,” Edmunds said. 

The house was not the same without her son, and even Jasper’s favourite dog, Cadbury, seemed “lost”. 

“This is not something you expect at all.” 

The family was now exploring possible genetic conditions that could have led to Jasper’s death. 

Edmunds said she had learned she had had a seizure when she was young, and her first cousin also suffered seizures. 

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.