Dubai: "We're all hoping for a miracle. We're praying Jon will wake up any day now, have a total recovery, and give everyone all their money back, which they have so generously donated in his period of trouble," UAE Rugby skipper Mike Cox-Hill told XPRESS as preparations for the fundraising event on Friday at 7he Sevens was on in full swing.
Dubai Exiles RFC (DERFC) and UAE National Rugby team player Jon Beeton (‘Studente' to his friends) was critically hurt in an accident on June 17 when he fell on a boating trip with friends. As a consequence of that fall, he suffered severe head and neck injuries and he remains in hospital in Dubai where he has not regained consciousness since his accident.
Expert medical opinion from the UAE and overseas specialists is that Jon will never regain consciousness. It has left his young wife of six months, Tammy, his family, his friends, his work and rugby colleagues stunned and shocked.
Slim chance
"We know that medically, the chances of him making a total recovery are very slim. Clinically, he has been declared brain-dead after all. Yet, miracles occur all the time. Everyone's praying for Jon, and we're not going to give up hope," Cox-Hill said.
Organised by the men's section of DERFC led by Mike Cox-Hill and Dave Vittes, the fund-raising event on Friday will consist of a brunch followed by a "Studente's Exiles versus UAE National Side" rugby match. The brunch will start at 3pm where an auction of sporting memorabilia and a raffle prize draw will take place. Prizes will include the chance to win a guaranteed place in the Dubai Desert Classic Pro Am tournament (donated by Emirates NBD) and 2 Business Class tickets to Europe, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand (courtesy of Emirates). The rugby match will kick off at 7.30pm.
"The money collected from the fundraiser will go towards either Jon's recovery or repatriation, as well as to cover the costs for his family to be by his side and to support Tammy during this difficult period. The left overs will be divided between two charities," Cox-Hill said.
The UAE Rugby skipper also recalled his association with Beeton. "I first met Jon in 2006 at the Dubai Exiles. We've played together for five years. Ironic that something like this would happen to someone who's got such a great zest for life.
"This tragedy feels surreal. I can't comprehend what happened. I just want the Studente that I know and love, back.
"Naturally, we are prepared for the worst, while still praying for the best," he said.
Exiles' best
Jon Beeton, a South African national, is a stalwart of the Dubai Exiles where he played last season at Centre for the first XV. This year he was awarded the Men's Player of the Year Trophy which he received at the Exiles' Annual Ball. He is also an integral member of the UAE National 15s team and many can remember his storming run for the UAE up the field against Japan from which the team so nearly scored against world class opposition.
- with inputs from Muby Asger
