'Free spirit with a heart of gold' (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

'Free spirit with a heart of gold'

Neil Cole pictured recently Picture Ref: 77765-292THE parents of teenager Neil Cole have spoken for the first time about the death of their son. Allan and Jan Cole say they will never forget his cheeky grin and laid-back, happy-go-lucky attitude to life.

Since the 18-year-old, of Harcourt Road, Ferndale, died from severe head injuries sustained in a skateboard accident, they have been overwhelmed by messages of support.

Friends have described him as the life and soul of the party and a free spirit with a heart of gold.

"People have been so kind," said Mr Cole.

"It's heartbreaking. We went to the Walkabout bar the other night and we couldn't get far past the door because a mass of people had turned out for him. We were gobsmacked.

"I think he was so popular because of his nature he was just so sunny. He was a cheeky chappie with a loveable grin."

Neil, who has two sisters and one brother, died on Tuesday after falling from his longboard a larger version of a skateboard near Newquay in Cornwall.

He was not wearing a helmet.

After hearing what had happened, his parents, who are now living in Spain, flew back to be by his hospital bedside.

Mrs Cole, a former accident and emergency nurse at the Great Western Hospital, said: "When I was told what the injuries were I could tell by the doctor's voice that my worst nightmare was about to come true.

"When I was on the plane I didn't stand up and broadcast what had happened but the person sitting next to me knew something was wrong because I was just sat there crying.

"When I first saw him I said 'You stupid boy, why didn't you wear a helmet?'"

Mr Cole flew out on Sunday and family and friends waited for news at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

"It was difficult seeing him just lying there in hospital," said Mr Cole. "The doctor told us the extent of his injuries and explained what was going on and we sat just waiting and waiting.

"We knew he just wasn't there anymore. He went for another scan and we went off into town and bumbled around. We came back and were told he had massive brain damage and all his functions had gone.

"They took the ventilator away and he lasted for 40 minutes. But really to my mind he died on Saturday on the hill and it was just his body carrying on."

Even in death, Neil has had a positive effect on life as the tragedy has reunited his mum with her sister after 22 years and his dad hopes to see his brothers at the funeral for the first time in 12 years.

"He has helped end a family feud," said Mr Cole.

Neil, who worked at Just Add Water surf shop in the Brunel Centre, The Victoria pub in Old Town and Nationwide, travelled to Cornwall to take part in the annual Run to the Sun event.

He will be cremated in Truro, Cornwall, at 1.30pm today and his ashes will be scattered on the Newquay coastline.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a memorial service at the Immanuel Church in Upham Road at 12.30pm the following day to coincide with his birthday.

A collection has been started at The Victoria pub.

Money will be used to buy something special to leave at the place of the accident.

Funds could also be used for a permanent memorial at the Walkabout,l his regular drinking haunt.

Skateboarders take up the safety message

LONGBOARDERS up and down the country are heeding safety advice from Neil Cole's sister.

Elly, 20, of Chippenham, said he suffered serious head injuries because he was not wearing a helmet so is urging others to don protective headgear.

And this advice appears to be hitting home as on a website forum for Lush Longboards which makes and sells longboards around the UK enthusiasts say they will now ignore the coolness factor of not wearing one.

After reading the messages on the website, Peter Smedley, of Wolverhampton, emailed the Adver.

He said: "It may be of small comfort, but Elly's message has indeed reached exactly the community it was aimed at as well as generating great sympathy all around.

"It is still being discussed and has generated unanimous and wholehearted support for the wearing of helmets and other protective equipment.

"The message is clear and the response equally so helmets are an essential not an accessory."

Other messages posted on the website have come from longboarders in cities and towns such as London, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and the Wirral in Merseyside.

One read: "Let's all hope we learn from other people's tragedies. Wearing a helmet is cool pads and gloves are an essential part of the sport."

Richard Auden, of Lush Longboards, said Neil's accident had sent shockwaves around the UK's small longboard community.

"Hopefully it will serve as a wake-up call to downhill skaters everywhere to wear their helmets whenever and wherever they skate," he said. "It is tragic that it takes something like this to happen to make everyone wear protective gear let's not let it happen to anyone else."

Neil's family are also hoping to get wristbands made for skateboarders bearing a safety slogan.

Ben Payne