Actor Tom Hanks has sent a letter and a Corona-brand typewriter to a eight-year-old Australian boy who said he was being bullied because of his name.
Corona DeVries, from Helensvale on the northern Gold Coast, first wrote to Mr Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson when they were recovering from coronavirus in Queensland last month to wish them a speedy recovery.
He added that he loved his name but he had been bullied and called "coronavirus" at school since the start of the pandemic.
"I get very sad and angry when people call me this," he wrote to his new pan pal.
Mr Hanks sent a letter in response and said: "Dear friend Corona.
"Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful!
"Thank you for being such a good friend - friends make friends feel good when they are down.
"Even though I was no longer sick, getting your letter made me feel even better."
He sent a special typewriter too - the one he took with him to the Gold Coast University Hospital following his Covid-19 diagnosis.
"I thought this typewriter would suit you," he wrote. "Ask a grown up how it works. And use it to write me back."
Mr Hanks also included stationery and self-addressed envelopes in the parcel to make sure Corona can keep in touch.
Corona's dad Kevin told Australian media outlet 9 News, who helped Corona post his letter to Mr Hanks in the US, that it was an "incredibly kind and unexpected gesture".
He said: "That typewriter meant a lot to Tom, and for him to give it to Corona is very, very special."
Corona's family said he sent the letter to Mr Hanks because he is a big fan of Woody in the Toy Story movies.
In reference to the film's popular theme song, Mr Hanks signed off his letter to Corona with a handwritten note saying "you've got a friend in me".
Mr Hanks and his wife are back in the US after spending three weeks recovering from the virus in Australia last month.
