Josh McMahon |

Jimmy Harris was in Christchurch installing curtains in a home around 500 metres from the mosque, when he heard live radio reports of a mass shooting.

The former Grafton High student said he and his Moroccan workmate could hear sirens blaring, as emergency services rushed to the scene. His voice shook as he spoke about the tragedy, which had rocked the peaceful Christchurch community.

“It’s just really bizarre. This place is just so friendly, everyone gets along and there’s no anti Muslim views – local people are all friendly, that’s the saddest bit,” Mr Harris said.

“All sorts of people here are Muslim – Maoris, Islanders – to us it really doesn’t matter.”

Born in Christchurch, Jimmy Harris moved to Grafton as a youngster and studied at Grafton High, four grades above alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant. He later returned to Christchurch for work.

On the day of the shooting, Mr Harris said he was driving to a job in Christchurch when he witnessed a vehicle driving erratically away from the mosque site, hazard lights on, horn blaring, in an attempt to get away. Just moments later when he arrived at the job, Mr Harris heard reports of the shooting on the radio.

It wasn’t until watching the news on television that night that Mr Harris realised how close he may have come to the alleged gunman.

The former Graftonian struggled to put words together when asked if he had a message for family of the victims.

“They’re going through hell. Where do you start? I honestly wouldn’t know what to say. My thoughts are with them and I’m sorry – for whatever that’s worth,” he said.

Mr Harris said the atmosphere this week in Christchurch was eerie and ‘on edge’, the massacre reigniting anxiety that hadn’t been present in the peaceful city since the 2011 earthquake, where 185 were killed and thousands injured.