Wife and daughter of NZ man murdered in Panama released from hospital

The wife and daughter of a New Zealand man that was murdered on board their boat in Panama have been discharged from hospital.

New Zealand man, Alan Culverell, of Picton, died after being shot in an apparent attack by armed robbers in Panama.

The incident happened on Thursday (local time).

Mr Culverell had been in Panama with his wife and two twin children, a boy and girl who are aged 11 years.

Alan Culverwell’s wife Derryn was injured by a machete during the attack and has had her shoulder stitched up, Alan’s sister Derryn Hughes told 1 NEWS.

Mrs Hughes said her niece received a blow to the head and hand and her nephew was unharmed.

Both mother and daughter are in a stable but “sore” condition, Mrs Hughes said, adding the whole family is “shaken” by what happened and are recovering in a hotel in Colón.

Mrs Hughes said the attack was “so quick and dark and disorientating” the family don’t know how many offenders were there.

Alan Culverwell, 60, was shot at close-range, she said.

“People that know him know he would have taken the bullet for his family.”

She said Panama police have launched an intensive investigation and have told her they’re quietly confident they’ll find the attackers since the area is a small community.

The step-son of Alan and a close friend have travelled from New Zealand to be with the family, Mrs Hughes said.

Two of Derryn’s family members are also flying over to support them.

Mrs Hughes said Alan was the eldest of four siblings and was born in Wellington.

The family set out in late December 2016 for what was planned to be a two year journey.

They picked up a boat in Florida, travelling to the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, and meeting families on similar journeys along the way, she said.

Hurricane season led to a travel delay while the boat was repaired, but their enjoyment of the journey also led to the family extending their time away from New Zealand.

They waited for bad weather to pass before finally setting out on the long journey back to New Zealand, she said.

Mrs Hughes said Alan was planning to stop in the Pacific Islands and Tasmania.

Mrs Hughes and her husband were hoping to meet up with the family at some point.

She described her brother as having an affinity to water for his whole life, enjoying barefoot skiing, owning boats and being a paua diver with long stints away from home in the Chatham Islands.

“If he does something, he does it well,” she said.

She said her brother was a “great dad” to the twins and the family often practised emergency evacuation drills on board the boat.

“Nothing could prepare them for what happened though.” 

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed they are "providing consular assistance to a New Zealand family following an incident in Panama".

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page set up for the family has already raised over half its goal in just one day. 

Almost $14,000 has been raised towards a $20,000 target in just 24 hours.