Family Tragedy Forces ICANN Board Member to Return to New Zealand 24 June 06 Marrakech, Morocco, 24th June 2006: As the 26th International meeting gets underway in Marrakech, it is with deep sorrow that ICANN announces that Board Member Peter Dengate-Thrush has been forced to return to New Zealand due to a family tragedy. Yesterday, four members of Peter's family were killed in a car accident. Commenting on this news, ICANN's Chairman Vint Cerf said: "This is a terrible tragedy and I have extended heartfelt sympathy to Peter on behalf of the myself, the Board, staff and the ICANN community. Peter is a highly respected and valued member of the ICANN community and we extend to him our friendship, prayers and support in this tragic time." ICANN invites anyone wishing to extend public condolences to Peter to do so via pdt-messages@icann.org . ICANN will publish the archive at <http://forum.icann.org/lists/pdt-messages/>. Peter's commitments at the Marrakech meeting will be managed by other Board Members.