The family of a motorcyclist who sadly lost his life in a collision near Wootton last week have paid tribute to his ‘bubbly personality’ and ‘massive heart’.
Sam Gibbons has been described as someone who would help absolutely anyone if he could, a lover of adrenaline and a fantastic father who will be sorely missed by his family and his friends.
The 31-year-old, from Newport, had been riding his motorcycle along Whiterails Road – the main route between Staplers and Wootton – on Thursday evening (15th July) when he was involved in a collision with a Ford Fusion in the vicinity of Butterfly World.
As previously reported by Island Echo, emergency services including firefighters, paramedics, and Police rushed to the scene, alongside specialist doctors of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
Sadly, despite the very best efforts of the emergency services and a local bus driver who performed CPR, Sam passed away from his injuries. He leaves behind his young son and daughter, his 5 siblings, and his children’s mother, Nikki.
Sam’s family have provided Island Echo with the following tribute:
‘Sam was a caring son, father, brother, grandson, nephew, uncle and friend who would have helped anyone if he could, he had a big passion for bikes and would always be getting his hands dirty.
‘Sam has previously worked as a mechanic in his younger years and would be the one everyone went to for a helping hand.
Article continues below this advertisement ‘It was always in his blood. It’s been a real tragic and bittersweet to Sam’s family and friends as Sam had just overcome some struggles he had faced and recently said himself: “I had a hard road to go down before I managed to turn things around, and I’m now the best version of me I’ve ever been”.
‘He will be dearly missed by so many.’
A fundraising appeal has also been launched to help cover the cost of Sam’s funeral, with the family asking Islanders to donate using an online page set up by Sam’s friends Nick and Liam.
Their tribute reads:
“Sam was such a lovey bubbly character with a massive heart and would help absolutely anyone if he could. So it’s only right we try and help him have the funeral he deserves.
“He loved riding his motorbike as he said it his bit of freedom he loved the adrenaline and the way it made him feel Sam is going to be severely missed by so many people.”
If you would like to donate towards the fundraising appeal for Sam’s funeral, you can find the GoFundMe page here.
This article has been published with permission and guidance from Sam’s family and in accordance with their wishes.
Hampshire Constabulary is appealing for information from anyone who may have been travelling in the area at the time of the incident. Did you witness the collision, or do you have dashcam footage that could assist the investigation? Anyone with any information is asked to call the police on 101 with reference 44210279717.
RIP, so sad to see a life cut so short, thoughts are with his family.
Life is fragile..lets hope all learn from this incident..and drive with the care and respect roads need..a needless death affects all close to us..so do it for their sake if not your own..
The joy or riding a motorbike is so lovely but so dangerous on our busy, bend, narrow ill kept and badly lit roads.
Very sad for his family and friends as seemingly a good guy. Let’s hope they take some comfort he died what he loved to do and likely didn’t suffer either.