Father of teen crash victim dies

10:25am Friday 16th May 2008

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The father of a teenage crash victim has "died of a broken heart", his family said today.

Matt Sadler, 17, of Whitehawk Way in Brighton, died when the car he was in with friends smashed into a wall in Wilson Avenue, Brighton, on February 9.

His father Fred, 84, was said to be distraught and told family he wanted to be reunited with his son as he was admitted to hospital five days later.

Last night Matt's sister, Lesley Stringer, said: "My stepfather gave up. He stopped eating and drinking and told us he wanted to be with Matt.

"Even when he was in hospital he pulled the tube out of his stomach that was feeding him. He loved Matt dearly and they were extremely close."

Mr Sadler Snr, a former SAS commander and bus mechanic, had three children from a previous marriage, David, Christine and Pauline.

He died on May 8 from laryngeal cancer after four weeks in the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath. He had been discharged two days before his son's funeral on March 20.

Mrs Stringer said her mother, Maria, 58, was devastated after losing her son and husband of 19 years within three months.

She said: "He was an amazing man. He was very masculine but also very gentle. But he had a broken heart.

"Matt, his stepchildren and all of his grandchildren used to spend lots of time sitting with him, listening to his army stories.

"He died at home which meant all his family and friend got to say goodbye.

"Unfortunately that really brought it home for mum because she never got to say goodbye to Matt. She feels very strongly that she was deprived of that right.

From having a full house it is now empty."

Matt was in a car with four friends when it crashed. Minutes earlier, the red Mazda was seen driving erratically and police signalled for it to stop.The other four occupants of the vehicle were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Chelsea Barnes and Amy Fitzsimmons, who were both 15 at the time of the incident, were released with minor injuries.

Simon Piercy, 16, was treated for more serious injuries. Friends say he sustained a broken leg and ribs, bleeding on the brain and kidney and liver damage but is improving.

Michael Morden, 16, of Haybourne Road, who was also released with minor injuries, was arrested on suspicion of causing Matt's death by dangerous driving.

He has not been charged and has been released on police bail until June 13.

Mr Sadler's funeral takes place on Monday at 2.15pm at Downs Crematorium in Bear Road, Brighton.