Te Puke
10 October, 2025
NEWS
Tandem firepower Te Puke firefighter Jodi Purdie and her 16-year-old son Cooper are set to make history this month as the first mother-son duo to compete in the World Firefighter Challenge in Texas.
Dubbed the toughest two minutes in sport, the challenge tests strength, endurance and firefighting skills across five gruelling tasks. While fathers have previously teamed up with sons and
daughters, no mother and son have ever competed together at the world level. Cooper, inspired by watching his mum compete since he was nine, will take on the course in full gear for
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the first time internationally. Their tandem run marks a milestone not just for their family, but for the global firefighting community. Read more on page 4. Photo / Stuart Whitaker