Jack Pollock: Heart-wrenching tributes pour in for teen boxer who died while holidaying in Portugal
LISBON, PORTUGAL: An Edinburgh teenager's friends and family have come together to pay tributes to him after he died suddenly at the age of 14. Jack Pollock was a highly talented and promising youth who was also a doting son and brother. He had been vacationing with his mother and brother in Portugal, when tragedy struck on Thursday, September 29.
Pollock was fondly remembered by his friends, family and school. His father, Darryl, 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. I'll say one thing about Jack and that is the fact he was a protector. All of his friends went to him if they had any trouble as he was their rock," according to Edinburgh Live.
READ MORE
Molly Russell death: Instagram was 'blind' to teen, 14, 'liking' over 2,000 posts on self-harm
Pollock was a student of the Royal High School from Clermiston. His local boxing club in Granton remembers him as a boy "full of ideas and mischief" and an emerging athlete. A fundraiser has been set up to cover the funeral costs and to ensure that his body is brought back from Portugal.
"With a passion for boxing, he was dedicated to training and being the best. He had a love of CDT and history," reads the fundraiser, adding, "We are trying to raise money to help Jack's mum put towards the upcoming expenses. We know that no amount of money will ever bring Jack back, but if we can help to ease the pressure and take a little bit of load off the family, then we will try our best."
Speaking about his son's accomplishments, Darryl said, "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. He was at that teenager stage when they were going out all the time and being cheeky. Sometimes he was a pain in the backside to get home on time if you know what I mean."
David Barclay, a coach at the Granton Amateur Boxing Club, wrote on Facebook, "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." His emotional post goes on to speak about Jack's love for boxing, and that everyone would agree that he "had the heart of a lion."
Barclay said Jack would have gone far in the boxing world. "Jack you was never a member, You were part of the little family. May God give you the best bed in heaven and everyone hold jacks family in their thoughts and prayers. Rest easy wee champ," his post read.
Darryl mentioned that the news of the 14-year-old's death has been hard on his best-friend Hamish and girlfriend Poppy. The teen was also very close to his younger brother, for whom he was "the man."