Click the image above to view slideshowHundreds of surfers are paddling out beyond the break this afternoon to honour missing five-year-old Jack Dixon who was swept out to sea five days ago.
Hundreds of surfers are taking part in a paddle-out for missing Jack Dixon. Photos by: Cameron Avery.
Organised by Tauranga surfer Brett Morrison, the paddle-out at Mount Maunganui's Main Beach is a tribute to the ongoing search for Jack.
As part of the tribute, 50 red and blue helium balloons will be released – a symbol of Jack's favourite colours worn by his fictional hero Spiderman.
Jack was playing at the water's edge in an area known as Shelly Beach on October 1 when he was swept out to sea by a large wave.
Police and search and rescue volunteers, supported by members of the three Bay of Plenty surf lifesaving clubs, have been searching for Jack since his disappearance.
Surfers at Mount Maunganui's Main Beach ready for the paddle-out.
In a media statement released today, Jack's mother Karen Spargo and father Wayne Dixon say they haven't given up on finding their son.
"We're so grateful for the surf lifesavers, the search and rescue personnel, the police and all the members of the public who continue to look for him.
'We're also overwhelmed by the response from our local community, from New Zealanders and people around the world. Your warmth and caring has helped give us strength.”
Although their focus remains on finding and bringing Jack home, Karen and Wayne say they're aware of all the people who have brought in food, donated online or in person and who continue to be vigilant.
'Please know we appreciate it and accept our deepest thanks. We accept there is also considerable media interest in the ongoing search for Jack but please, leave us alone and respect the dignity of our grief."
Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club has been inundated with food for the volunteers helping to search for Jack since a call for hot lasagnes and casseroles was put on social media this morning.
A post to the Mount Lifeguard Service's Facebook page reads: 'Our kitchen at the surf club is bursting at the seams and we simply can't stock any more of your delicious lasagnes, the sumptuous pies, the trays of eggs, the home baking, the bacon and the sausages.
'Our friends at Betta Electrical have donated a freezer to the club to help us with the overflow but even still, please keep your most-generous food contributions for now.”
More than $35K has been raised via a Givealittle page set up to support Jack's family, who will donate a portion of the funds to Surf Life Saving NZ.
5 comments
Good Community Spirit
Posted on 05-10-2014 19:28 | By Merlin
As an old pensioner it is great to see people coming together to help in situations like this.There is not enough of this nowadays.When I was young there was a lot more interaction among communities.Perhaps our politicians could learn something about getting getting on together rather than trying to put people down.
AWESOME
Posted on 05-10-2014 19:36 | By carpedeum
RIP little Jack
a wise old pensioner
Posted on 05-10-2014 21:18 | By [email protected]
You are absolutely correct. But unfortunately it takes such a devastating event like this to occur for it to happen
Tragic!!!
Posted on 06-10-2014 09:03 | By Sambo Returns
for sure that little Jack through no fault of his own has lost his life. now we have a group who should know better paddling out beyond the break in 50 knot off shore winds, hardly an example for our young!!, why not make the call with the conditions being so marginal for the inexperienced watching and reading, to say lets have a few "quiets" and remember Jack in a safe place, at least teach our young something in memory of little Jack.
A word from the organiser
Posted on 07-10-2014 08:42 | By Brett M
I was the organiser of the paddle out and it was completely safe and the sea was flat.Your comments are uninformed and frankly offend me. The wind was off shore so blocked by houses and buildings and WAS NOT 50knots! This paddle out was also done with the support of surf Lifesavers who I had coordinated with and who also took part in the form of paddling out and with IRB support. We had a back up plan but it was not needed. Your suggestion that we should have gone and had a few "quiets" seems ludicrous to me. Let's go and have a beer for a 5year old cause man he loved to drink beer. Were you at the main beach? I doubt it instead you will sit in your chair and pass judgement. Thank you to everyone that came out to support the paddle out!
(I suspect the writer meant "quiets" as in quiet reflective moments not beers)
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