'This morning I cried for a boy I had never met.'

Ten-year old Banjo Pilon was hit by a car, while skateboarding with friends. He passed away yesterday.

My heart is breaking today for a little boy I never knew.

A brown haired cracker of a kid with the strongest smile.

A 10-year old boy was filled with excitement this week at the news that his big brother Fletcher – a former contestant on The Voice kids – had scored the much-coveted gig as opening act for Australian musician Cody Simpson during his concerts in Sydney and the Gold Coast.

But on Monday afternoon, while skateboarding with his friends on the board he got for his 10th birthday, Banjo Pilon was hit by car. He was airlifted to Sydney Children’s Hospital with severe head, chest and leg injuries.

At 3.01pm yesterday, when he should have been glancing at the clock edging on those last few minutes of the school day, Banjo’s family said a final goodbye.

His mum Jilly later wrote on Facebook a tribute to her beloved son:

“You have put up the greatest fight these last two days our angel. So proud of you and how strong you’ve been. You managed to get through 3 cardiac arrests, heart surgery, brain surgery and even when they thought you’d gone you chose to breathe on your own and spend one last special night and morning with us holding you tight.”

She wrote:

“We now savour every last minute with you our little hero before you are taken to donate your organs tonight to other sick little children and give them your special gift of life.

Keep smiling sweetheart. We all love you so, so much and you will always be with us wherever we are.

Our little angel, you’ve always had so much love to give and you’ve always held a special place in the hearts of those you met.

You’ll always be our strength little mate. You could never understand why people were crying.

Banj, you have brought so much family love together here at the hospital. Singing your special song “Hoochie Coochie Man” was just beautiful. Thanks for drumming along.

Thank you everyone for all your prayers, love and special messages.

We’d like to give a special mention to all the amazing ambulance, helicopter, hospital and police staff. We appreciate everything you’ve done for us.

Please we ask of you all not to post RIP. We have chosen to say

“Sweet dreams Banj. Live on in happiness buddy.”

You’re always with us.

Part of the tragedy of Banjo’s death is just how suddenly he was killed.

It’s the awful gut-churning knowledge that no matter how tight we hold them, how much we try and protect our children, the harsh hand of fate can take them away just when we think they are safe.

As a parent your deepest instinct is to protect them, watch over them. But in order to let them grow they need freedom.

You test your own boundaries so many times by giving them independence in little ways – walking to school, $2 to go to the shop to buy a paddle pop, letting them skate with their mates on a sunny winters day safe in the street of their homes.

The fact that Banjo wasn’t safe even when he was safe, brings me to my knees. And I didn’t even know him.

To his parents, his sister and his big brother – we are all thinking of your beautiful boy.

We are all wishing along with you that life wouldn’t be so bloody cruel and even though we are strangers we are all holding out our arms to you because boys like Banjo need to be celebrated.

Live on in happiness, Banjo.

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If this man had waited at the bus stop seconds longer, this video would have a very different ending.
A little boy is dead. The photo everyone’s sharing today is not honouring him.