The parents of an American teenager killed in a train accident in Palmerston North have publicly thanked New Zealanders for their "generosity, graciousness, love and care."
Jan and Marty Phillips, of Austin, Texas, published a long thank-you letter to "the people of Palmerston North and New Zealand" in the country's main newspapers yesterday.
Mr Phillips said from Texas last night that they wrote the letter because of the compassion shown to them when they arrived to collect their son's body last month.
"All these people were just so phenomenal. We wanted to tell all of you that, yes, only a small portion touched us, but we felt all of you."
Ian Seagar Phillips died after he slipped and fell between a departing train and the platform at the Palmerston North station on July 19.
He had been running to try to reboard the train.
The 17-year-old from Bowie High School in Texas was in New Zealand with a group of American exchange students.
He was the couple's only child.
In the letter, Jan Phillips said that when the couple spoke to Ian a few days before he died, "he told us what a beautiful country this is, how the people are so friendly and kind. He had fallen in love with New Zealand."
"We have been able to see some of the areas Ian visited. Our escorts throughout New Zealand have been the best imaginable.
"The depth of soul and caring that we have found here comforts us and enables us to go on. Despite this tragedy, we have been blessed."
Mr Phillips wrote that when the couple left America to bring Ian home, "nothing mattered to us anymore."
"After our journey to New Zealand, we learned much still does."
Grieving parents 'touched' by Kiwis
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