So sorry that life wasn’t kinder to you, sweetheart
Tributes paid to ‘lovely’ boy of 14 who was killed by rush hour train
A BOY of 14 who died after being hit by a rush hour train was described as one of the ‘nicest’ people and a ‘legend’ by heartbroken friends last night.
Sam Connor was killed in a horrific incident witnessed by fellow pupils at Chertsey Station in Surrey on Monday.
Those who knew the ‘bright and popular’ schoolboy claim he was being bullied at his Roman Catholic comprehensive.
Yesterday dozens of floral tributes were left for the Year 9 pupil, who attended Salesian secondary school, as photographs of the teenager emerged.
One tribute read: ‘So sorry that life wasn’t kinder to you sweetheart. RIP Angel.’ Another of Sam’s friends from breakdancing classes described the teenlute ager as one of the ‘most charming’ people. He wrote: ‘Hearing the most horrific thing [has happened] to one of your mates from your breaking class is one of the hardest things to ever forget.
‘Cannot even think of an emotion to describe how I am right now apart from heartbroken. No parent should ever bury their own child.
‘A life gone too soon to one of the most nicest (sic) and charming people ever in our breaking class.
‘The crying with happiness, the laughs, the dancing will never be the same without you. Rest in peace Sam you absolegend. Hope you’re still dancing out there in the skies.’
One passenger who witnessed the tragedy at around 4pm on Monday said the train stopped immediately.
The 28-year-old, from Weybridge, said: ‘The train stopped very suddenly with only one carriage alongside the platform. I thought maybe one of the kids had dropped their phone as they were all looking down at the wheels of the carriage.
‘We saw some of the girls starting to cry. We saw some of the boys leaning down, literally on their knees, calling down between the train and the tracks, calling “Sam, Sam”.’
The witness, who travels with the schoolchildren every day on his commute, said there were between 40 and 50 youngsters waiting on the platform.
He added: ‘What was particularly harrowing was there was a student paramedic who passed through the train and down on to the tracks to help the boy.
‘When she got down there she collapsed and burst into tears.’
The owner of a convenience store close to the family home spoke of his shock at the 14-year-old’s death, describing Sam as a ‘lovely, polite lad’ who would come into the shop with his brother.
One boy with friends at the school said: ‘It’s horrible, I have friends who were there and saw the whole thing.
‘They said he was being bullied. It’s only four days until school breaks up and you’d have thought he’d be able to get help. I’ve met him in passing and he seemed happy. But I guess you never know what’s going on with someone.’
One mother, who came to lay tributes at the station, said her son also attends the Salesian school.
‘There are issues with bullying’, she said. ‘My son used to see Sam on his own in the playground. He never saw him being physically attacked but he knew he was being bullied.’
Head teacher James Kibble wrote an emotional letter to parents after the tragedy. ‘This is an incredibly difficult situation but knowing the faith, compassion and strength of our school community, I am confident that we will work together to support one another,’ he said.
Mr Kibble added that counsellors and an educational psychologist would be on site to provide support.
‘A student paramedic burst into tears’