Tragedy as dad of five young children suddenly dies – leaving his wife to raise them alone

A stay-at-home father of one-year-old quadruplets has tragically died, leaving his wife to raise five children alone.

Brett Wills died on Sunday, June 9, leaving behind his wife Joanne Wills and their five children: three-year-old Peter and one-year-old quadruplets Jonathan, Oliver, Lucy and Esther.

The immediate family lived in Napier, on the North Island of New Zealand.

It is understood that Mr Wills passed away due to health problems.

A online fundraiser as the family said, “Brett was a wonderful stay-at-home dad to his five children and an active member of his local church.”

Brett Wills (pictured with his wife and children) passed away on Sunday afternoon after a reported health struggle

The Givealittle page has raised more than $30,000 since it opened on Monday.

His wife, a skipper and secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Coastguard, gave birth to the quadruplets at Wellington Hospital in August 2022.

The babies were born prematurely at 31 weeks and one day by planned caesarean section without complications.

It is understood that Jonathan, Oliver, Lucy and Esther were the only second quadruplet to be born in New Zealand in the last twenty years.

In an emotional post on social media, Mrs Wills remembered her husband.

Mr Wills (pictured with his wife Joanne) was the stay-at-home dad to the couple’s quadruplets and three-year-old son

“We are all heartbroken, he was the most amazingly loving and devoted father and husband, and adored all of his children,” she wrote.

‘Unfortunately his body became too weak and he could no longer cope and went to be with the Lord in the afternoon.

“He was a very humble and godly man and will be greatly missed.”