Jonah Lomu death hits Polly Gillespie and Grant Kereama hard: 'There are no words'

The Hits presenters Polly Gillespie and Grant Kereama aired an emotional message to listeners this morning as they mourned the death of their close friend, Jonah Lomu.

In a recorded message, the pair explained why they were absent from their show.

Kereama, who donated a kidney to Lomu in 2004, said: "Hope you guys understand, eh? I really can't talk."

Gillespie said the pair weren't in a position to be on the radio this morning.

"I think you know that when something really affects you and there's something really important, there are no words and there's no way to go on and even speak to your very best friends without being really emotional," she said.

"We have lost one of our best friends. Today we will not be at work. I hope you understand."

Gillespie penned an emotional tribute to Lomu on Facebook yesterday, in which she recalled their friendship and how important he was to both her and Kereama.

Here is the post in full:

My heart is smashed..

I don't know what to do with my aching heart. I don't want to answer the phone. I can't believe it's true. So many times there have been stupid rumours that "Jonah has died", and they were just horrible tasteless lies.

But this is not a hoax, oh God that it was.

One of my best friends is gone. Jonah, who would talk to me about everything from Versace dinnerware to silly drinking games, has gone.

Jonah stood up for me like a big brother. He stayed with us for months and we'd talk and hoon around and laugh, and always watch Antiques Roadshow.

One thing about my boy is he had great taste in women, and through the years I became friends with the lovely Teina, the indomitable Fiona, and the ever-loving Nadene.

Jonah I'm going to miss your calls from all the strangest places in the world. I'll miss telling you off, and telling you the truth when no-one else will do it.

I'll miss your big hands describing the cool things you've seen, and the quiet dignified way you handled, fans, foes and your illness.

Jonah, I miss you arriving in the middle of the night with a big feed and presents for the kids (far too generous). I'll miss the way you always called me Miss Polly, and would come into the lounge, lie on my couch and immediately go into a deep sleep for hours. It was the magic couch eh J-Lo?

Grant and I loved you like our own brother, and life without you already hurts so badly. I can't stop crying. I can't stop wishing I could have somehow done something. I'm going to miss you like a naughty little brother. Oh Jonah ...what are we to do without you? I still have half of your stuff stored in your room at our house.

You were more than the world's greatest to me. You were just my friend, and I miss my friend.

Jonah I love and miss you, and my heart is breaking . . .