A promising teen boxer died suddenly while on vacation with his family just days before his 15th birthday.
Jack Pollock, from Edinburgh, passed away suddenly in Portugal on Thursday, September 29.
On Saturday, October 1, Jack’s heartbroken father Darryl posted a message on Facebook: “Birthday boy in 3 days. I love you too much Jack. Shattered, broken, all in one. I’m here with you and I just wished you were sitting here beside me”.
“Things will never be the same, we never expected this to happen on holiday”, he added. “We need him to be a peace and home. We will bring you home no matter what”.
Darryl also told of his son’s dedication to boxing and his loved ones.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, he said: “He was really passionate about his boxing. Even on his days off he was out a run and always gave it 150%, there was no slacking from Jack.”
He continued: “If ever you needed anything, he would be the first to dash out of his house and help you out. He also loved his music but his passion was being out with his pals”.
The teenager was a member of the Granton Amateur Boxing Club. A moving tribute was paid to Jack by one of the boxing coaches at the club, David Barclay. It read: “On behalf of myself and everyone at the Granton amateur boxing club we would like to share our deepest condolences with Jack’s family with a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat”.
“I can tell you that Jack’s passing has devastated a full community. Just under a year ago, you walked into my gym full of ideas and mischief, a typical teenage boy who absolutely loved boxing. As everyone who was involved with Jack would agree this kid had the heart of a lion. In my personal opinion, this kid would have gone far in the boxing world”.
“Jack: you were never a member, you were part of the little family. May God give you the best bed in heaven and everyone hold Jack’s family in their thoughts and prayers. Rest easy wee champ”, David concluded.
A friend of the family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds to repatriate Jack and give him a wonderful send-off. It has already beaten the targeted goal of £5,000.
