‘I love you and always will’: Tragic final text sent by man, 19, to his girlfriend moments before taking his own life by crashing into a barrier on the M6
- Alex Tyson, 19, crashed into a barrier at Junction 31 near Samlesbury, Lancashire
- He passed away instantly on collision on September 4 last year, an inquest heard
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org
The tragic final text message sent by a man to his girlfriend moments before taking his own life by crashing into a barrier on the M6 said: ‘I love you and always will’.
Alex Tyson, 19, was killed instantly after crashing his Ford Fiesta into a crash barrier on the exit sliproad at Junction 31 near Samlesbury, Lancashire, on Sunday, September 4 last year.
The 19-year-old had been killed instantly in the collision after he had deliberately positioned his car and aimed it at the barrier before accelerating up to 88mph and crashing, an inquest held on Thursday heard.
Just moments earlier he had sent a text message to his girlfriend in which he said: ‘I love you and always will… I am on the motorway… see you in the next life and goodbye’.
His concerned partner then contacted his sister Ellie who used the app Find My iPhone to track her brother’s location.
Alex Tyson (pictured), 19, was killed instantly when he crashed his Ford Fiesta into a barrier on the exit sliproad at Junction 31, moments after texting his girlfriend: ‘I love you and always will’
Alex’s father, taxi driver Peter Tyson, hurried to the M6 at Junction 31a before making his way to the slip road at Junction 31.
Recalling the events leading up to his desperate journey to his son’s location, Peter told LancsLive: ‘I went home and his car wasn’t on the drive. I got a screenshot from Ellie from Find My iPhone which showed his phone was between the slip road and the carriageway.
‘I went home and told [Alex’s mum] Caroline what Ellie had said but by that stage, he’d been dead half an hour. Then I went to Junction 31a and headed southbound. There were no blues and twos and I thought ‘that’s good’.
‘Then I came off at Junction 31 and saw his car between the slip road and the carriageway. I jumped out and ran across using my phone as a torch but he wasn’t in the car.
‘I found him 20 yards from the car. Imagine that – finding your own son dead.’
During the inquest, Area Coroner Chris Long concluded Alex’s death was a suicide but after the hearing, Mr Tyson and his wife Caroline said they believed their son had been led to take his own life because of bullying messages.
Alex’s mother urged anyone who is going ‘through a crisis’ to speak to family or good friends so that other parents will not have to go through the same experience as they have.
Mr Tyson said: ‘We wake up every day with a wrecking ball through our lives.’
The 19-year-old was killed instantly in the collision after he had deliberately positioned his car and aimed it at the barrier before accelerating up to 88mph and crashing. Pictured: Alex when he was younger
Alex’s parents said that their son had been planning for the future, having recently bought Coldplay tickets and booked a trip to Milan, therefore they believe it was a ‘heat of the moment thing’ that led him to crash his car.
It was said that Alex had been desperately trying to contact his girlfriend after they had argued earlier in the night.
Mr Tyson said Alex had ‘so much to live for and he loved life’ and was just three months away from completing his apprenticeship.
Growing up, Alex was an avid football fan and enjoyed ‘all sports’, his parents said. He was well-liked at school and teachers from both his primary and secondary school attended his funeral.
Preston North End FC, where he used to coach a football team, held a tribute during the game against Burnley on September 13.
The club said on Twitter at the time: ‘Everyone at the club was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of PNE fan Alex Tyson at the age of just 19. Our thoughts are with all of Alex’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time.’
His ‘greatest passion’ was Preston North End and had held a season ticket since he was a young boy. He was involved in the fans group, Preston Supporters Collective, and ex-chairman Peter Ridsdale was among the many people who attended Alex’s funeral.
‘He just loved sports,’ his mother said.
‘There is a hole in our lives that will never be filled and we miss him every single day.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org
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