The sudden death of former All Black and Manu Samoa rugby player, Tiumalu Dylan Mika, has stunned the Pacific and rugby communities around the world.
Dylan Mika on the burst for the All Blacks against Samoa in 1999. Photo: Photosport
The flanker died, aged 45, at his Auckland home on Tuesday of a suspected heart attack.
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, described Tiumalu as a gentle giant off the field, but a man with a lot of physical strength and passion on the field.
"To describe his character, he was a gentle person who loved his family and the communities he was involved with, both in New Zealand and Samoa.
"All those who knew him very well, including the south Auckland community, the Samoan community, the Catholic community in Auckland and the rugby scene, they will all be mourning," he said.
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio. Photo: RNZ/Daniela Maoate-Cox
Minister Aupito said he was shocked and saddened to hear the news as he personally knew the Mika family.
"I just want to convey my sincere condolences on behalf of all of our communities to the bereaved family particularly his wife Tracy [and their child, Marley].
"My thoughts also with his father and I mention that because it was only less than two years ago that they lost their mother.
"The fact that he has passed on at such a young age and when you read the news reports on the cause of death, you combine all those things together, the Mika family will be going through a really sad time," he said.
Rugby community pay tribute to All Black #982
A large number of tributes flooded social media this week paying their respect to the late Tiumalu Dylan Mika.
Messages came from rugby clubs, former Manu Samoa rugby players and rugby stars that shared the field with Tiumalu or admiration for him.