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 passed away, leaving his wife to face raising five children alone.

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

The close family lived in Napier, on New Zealand's North Island.

It's understood Mr Wills passed from health issues.

An online fundraiser for the family said: 'Brett was an amazing stay-at-home dad to his five children and an active member of his local church.'

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

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

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

It's understood that Jonathan, Oliver, Lucy, and Esther were the only second quadruplets born in New Zealand in the last 20 years.

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

'We are all heartbroken, he was the most amazing loving and dedicated father and husband, and adored all 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 dearly missed.'