THE grieving parents of a Chester man who was struck and killed by a train earlier this month have paid tribute to a ‘wonderful’ son and vowed to keep his memory alive.

Liz Evans, who owns Italian restaurant La Cantina in Boughton, and her husband Mark were left devastated when their beloved son Daniel was found dead on railway tracks outside Waverton on March 2.

It is not yet known how the 28-year-old came to be on the line but police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Now, three weeks after their tragic loss, the Evans family want to bring something positive from his death by reaching out to families who have suffered similar bereavement, and to help more charities close to their heart.

“Dan was a funny, sweet, kind and respectful person who hated to see anyone excluded or marginalised,” said Mark, 56, who is the head chef at La Cantina.

“Our decision to tell his story is a tribute to him and to celebrate his life.

“Out of a tragedy you think what you can do to bring something positive out of it – there is always someone worse off than you and we would like to see what we can do in the community, particularly for young people,” he added.

Former Christleton High School student Dan, who was born in Rome and lived in Italy until the age of four, was a keen musician, playing the cornet in numerous brass bands.

Though he had qualifications in gardening and horticultural studies, Dan, who lived alone in Huntington, was working part-time as a chef at La Cantina with his parents at the time of his death.

“He was talented and lovely and we were proud of him in a lot of ways,” said Liz, 55, who is also mum to daughters Rosalind, 25, and Francesca, 24.

“Life isn’t always easy for young people trying to have a go in life and some don’t get the support that we tried to give to Dan. He had his ups and downs in life but he had that Italian art of valuing life’s simple pleasures like fishing and music.

“The aftermath of his death has been very traumatic for us but we have had so much support from Dan’s friends, they have been wonderful.”

At his funeral service, held at St James’ Parish Church in Christleton last week, friends wore Roma football shirts in tribute to Dan, who was an avid supporter of the team.

“He was so proud of his Italian heritage and was known as the ‘Original Italian Stallion’,” remembers Liz.

“We re-opened the restaurant last week after being closed since Dan died, because we have to keep busy and have something to focus on.

“Since his death we have had so much turmoil and it is still very early in the process for us.

“But we would like to reach out to others who have suffered a similar experience and help them in any way we can, or they can help us.

“We have to carry on, for Dan.”

If you would like to get in touch with the Evans family or make a donation to one of their chosen charities, call G & M Goold Funeral Directors on 01244 319595.