The Hereford Times

Road death takes a part of those left behind

9:56am Thursday 27th March 2008

THE parents of a young sports enthuasist who died after an accident on a Herefordshire road have spoken of their devastating loss.

Edwina and Adrian Chambers, from Clyro, near Hay-on-Wye, are backing our safer driving campaign in the hope of warning drivers of the dangers they face on the county's roads.

Their son Laurence Chambers, who was working towards becoming an outdoor education instructor, died at the age of 21 following an accident on the Kinnersley road, near Eardisley, in October last year.

Mrs Chambers told the Hereford Times: "If telling our story can prevent just one life being shattered by death or serious injury then it won't have been in vain.

"Laurence was gifted, good looking, kind, generous to a fault, very adventurous, and although he could be argumentative and occasionally put our patience to test, he was loved dearly by all his friends and family.

"Many said he was one in a million."

Mrs Chambers spoke of the shock of losing a loved one which she describes as a parent's worst nightmare'.

"For all the people who have suffered because of a road crash, either through bereavement or serious injury, it is too late for the if onlys' once your loved one is gone.

"A fatality on a road does not just kill a loved one, it also takes a big part of the lives of those left behind."

She said Laurence, who was a former pupil of Fairfield High in Peterchurch, was airlifted to Birmingham where he was treated in a critical care unit.

"The staff of both the air ambulance and critical care fought hard to save him, and on a couple of occasions we even thought that he might survive although we supposed that the trauma to his brain would result in severe brain damage.

"As his mother I had to prepare myself for this and had visions of us specially converting the house to meet his needs."

Laurence, who was living on Hereford's College Estate, excelled at equestrian vaulting with the Pembridge-based Arrow Vaulting Group.

The daring sport involves performing gymnastics on horseback to music but he mastered its complexities to become a member of the team that won the intermediate class at the Welsh Open Champion-ship in 2002 and the British Championship in 2004.

During his time as a student, he won a bronze medal for trampolining in 2003 at the British College Athletics Championships.

He also enjoyed windsurfing, abseiling, surfing, orienteering, football and kayaking.

"Our daughter had recently returned from a gap year travelling solo around the world, and I had spent the whole year worrying about her safety," said Mrs Chambers.

"How ironic that it was my son who was the one I should have been worrying about."

An inquest into Laurence's death is due to take place on April 10 at Hereford Town Hall.