ABs send support
A sweet little boy in black has captured the hearts of the toughest men in black. Five-yearold Jack Dixon remains missing after a wave swept him off a Mt Maunganui beach on Wednesday.
The search continued in appalling weather yesterday and will resume this morning.
More than 12,000km away, the rugby team Jack idolised was preparing to battle the Springboks in Johannesburg.
The All Blacks, many fathers among them, couldn’t join the search for one of their youngest fans. When darkness fell, they couldn’t light a candle and pray with his family for Jack to come home.
But they could feel the loss of the rugby-loving boy photographed in his AB kit, rugby ball proudly in one hand.
In response to a fan’s suggestion of a minute’s silence, the following was posted on behalf of the team: “The All Blacks are aware of Jack’s disappearance and have sent his family a message of support. They, like all New Zealanders, are hoping that he is home and with his family soon.”
The Bay of Plenty Steamers ITM Cup team wore black armbands and joined in a minute’s silence at Tauranga’s Baypark Stadium yesterday before their 33-16 victory over Otago.
Family spokeswoman Miranda Clark, whose Give a Little page for the family topped $33,000 last night, wrote on Facebook: “Awesome! I know Karen and Wayne and the family sincerely appreciated that xxoo.”