A community mourned an all-round talent as 12-year-old Jack Martin was farewelled in Waikouaiti on Saturday.
A guard of honour formed outside the Eastern Rugby Football Club as the age-grade Otago rugby player and North Otago cricketer made his final journey off the ground where he played many times.
About 1000 people paid tribute as his casket, draped in an All Blacks' flag and covered in messages from people who loved him, was driven from the field in his uncle's Ford Explorer, a car Jack helped choose.
Jack died after being hit by a jet boat while biscuiting on St Bathans' Blue Lake on Boxing Day.
His father, Neil Martin, told mourners of Jack's tragic final moments.‘‘He was not going to go on the biscuit because he and [his sister] Kate had forgotten to put a Ventolin [inhaler] in the bag and he thought the life-jacket was bit big for him,'' Mr Martin said.
‘‘So, he left it until Kate had a go. She was OK, so he thought ‘bugger it, I'll give it a crack', so off he went.
‘‘Before long, the boat was coming back in at speed and my heart sank when I saw the waving arms and the distressed looks.
‘‘When I got to the boat, my worst fears were realised. My wonderful, happy, loving little wee man was in serious trouble.''
Jack stopped breathing several times before an ambulance and then a helicopter arrived.
‘‘I thought ‘sweet, we've kept him going, he might make it','' Mr Martin said.
‘‘When his heart stopped for the fourth time, the ICU doctor said to us that our boy had had enough and that he'd put up one hell of a fight, but he was never going to win the battle and, even if he was revived again, the odds were against him and he'd never be the boy we know, as the damage to his brain was so extensive.
‘‘His full-time whistle had blown, the game was over and so was the life of Jack Thomas Laurie Martin. That moment is now burned in my memory forever.''
The sobs of those present were broken from time to time by bursts of laughter as Mr Martin and other friends and family recalled memories of their cheeky and mischievous ‘‘Jumping Jack Flash''.
‘‘When my brother Geoff and I were building houses, I was working on a three-and-a-half-tonne digger with Jack sitting on one side,'' Mr Martin said.
‘‘I got off it to slip around the side of the house to do something, when I heard the digger moving. In a panic, I ran back only to see Jack operating it, swinging the bucket around, having a great time.
‘‘He'd been watching me and had worked out how to push the lever down to get it going. The little bugger was only 4.''
His uncle, Kerry Dowling, recalled how he and Jack had gone into Dunedin to buy the Ford Explorer on which Jack made his final journey.
‘‘Jack said 'should we open her up and have a look at the motor'. I didn't see the point as it clearly had one,'' he said, drawing laughter.
The pair, not knowing what they were looking at, observed it was ‘‘pretty black''.
Unfortunately, the pair's choice was not shrewd and the Ford was a ‘‘lemon''.
‘‘It's leaked more water this week than I have,'' Mr Dowling said. But nonetheless he would keep the vehicle as a reminder of his nephew and the day the pair bought it.
Jack's eldest sister, Courtney, remembered her little brother with ‘‘that cheeky wee grin''.
‘‘We have always been able to pick you up and dust you off, but not this time,'' she said.
‘‘You were never just mum's little baby - you were all of ours.''She broke into tears as she recalled what might have been: ‘‘I always thought that I would see you on TV with a black jersey and the No 9 on the back.‘
‘You will remain in my heart forever and always.''
Kate, his other sister, said she shared a special bond with Jack and both suffered allergies, eczema and asthma.
‘‘I always had to try the food first to see if we could eat it and then you were straight in,'' she said.
‘‘You trusted me so much and I trusted you.''
‘‘I'm going to miss you, little bro. Rest easy.''
His brother Bob admitted Jack's talents had made him jealous at times in the past, but he was proud of his ‘‘best friend''.
‘‘We always had each other's back and that's the great thing between two brothers,'' he said.
‘‘I know you will be looking down on me. You have still got my back until we see each other again.''
His mother, Bridget, thanked the community for their support and help during the past week.‘‘We have been blown away,'' she said.
‘‘We have got such a great community.
''And Jack was a child of the community, his father said.
‘‘A true son of the East Otago community - our boy was your boy,'' Mr Martin said.
‘‘He was everybody's son. A generous and loving son, who was loved by all who knew him, even if only for a short time.
‘‘He had that effect on people but he never knew that. He had no idea how much of a standout kid he was.''
Jack excelled at cricket and rugby and many members of the Otago sporting fraternity joined in paying their respects.
