Tributes have been paid to a young man from a Cheshire village killed in a road accident.
George Heath, 20, from Tarvin, has been named as the pedestrian who passed away following a collision with a lorry on the busy A49 in Tarporley shortly before 8am on Friday (March 4).
George, a former Tarvin Primary School and Tarporley High School pupil, sadly died at the scene.
He had been out with friends in Chester the evening before the fatal collision but went missing in the early hours, prompting a missing person’s appeal by his family on social media.
George, who was studying journalism at Staffordshire University, is survived by his parents Paul and Gaynor Heath and brother Harry. He is sadly missed by his ‘wonderful’ girlfriend Polly Gentle whom he met at university and ‘cherished very dearly’.
In a statement, his family said: ”It is with extremely heavy hearts that the Heath Family needs to share the loss of George Heath on Friday 4th March.”
They said George was ‘a popular and well-loved young man within the local community’ who had become a familiar face while working at King Louis Takeaway, the nearby Crocky Trail at Waverton and most recently, the George and the Dragon, where brother Harry held a celebration of his life on Saturday evening.
“He was known for his charismatic personality and his fun-loving approach to life and will be very sorely missed by many in the area,” continued the family statement.
“In this absolutely devastating time for us, we take a small glimmer of warmth and pride from the level of support we have received in the last 24 hours via Facebook and from a number of close friends and family who are also coming to terms with the loss of a really great young man.
“You will live on in our hearts and you will never be forgotten. We are lost without you. RIP George. We love you and miss you.”
Brother Harry has given permission for The Chronicle to reproduce his Facebook tribute to his brother.
He commented: “To my incredible little brother, you will live on in our hearts and you will never be forgotten.”
Speaking ahead of last Saturday’s event at the George, he wrote: “This will not be a pity party, but a chance to celebrate the life of a young man who crammed everything he possibly could in to his 20 years. Anyone is free to join us to raise a glass to our brother and our friend.”
Junior karting champion
Karting has been a huge part of the lives of both George and Harry.
And in 2008 The Chronicle reported that while a member of Tarporley High School’s karting team George, then aged 12, became a junior national champion, beating 24 rivals to avenge brother Harry’s defeat to the previous year’s champ.
Amazingly, he would go on to win three National Sprint Championships in total.
George’s Staffordshire University tutor Pete Leydon wrote: “We’re all devastated to hear the news.
“He was a charming, personable and mature young man who was liked by everyone, and had a very bright future. He was a pleasure to teach and know, and an absolute credit to his family.
“George will be sadly missed by all his friends, tutors and the whole Staffordshire University family.”
Hundreds of people have posted messages of support on Facebook and other social media.
Related story: Appeal for information after 20-year old man killed in A49 collision at Tarporley
Cheshire Police are investigating the accident and officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed anything in the run-up to the incident, or witnessed the collision itself.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident 155 of 4/3/16.
