Plea from ‘one punch’ tragedy mum
APPEAL TO FESTIVE REVELLERS OVER CONSEQUENCES OF DRUNKEN VIOLENCE
THE mother of a peacemaker killed by a single punch has urged Christmas revellers to think before they act to avoid another tragedy.
Christopher Thompson, 32, who lived in Edgeley, Stockport, was killed by a stranger outside Totties bar in Altrincham three days before Christmas 2016.
Mr Thompson – known as Chrissy – left behind his wife, Emily, and baby son Oliver.
Now his mum Linda has spoken out as his family face their second Christmas without him.
Linda said: “Chris was Mr Christmas, that’s why it makes it so difficult. He was the life and soul of every party.
“He was a big guy, big ginger beard and as friendly as you like. He’s missed by hundreds. He was just a bouncy, big, massive personality.
“That night, I didn’t even know he was going out. I’d gone up to bed not thinking anything. I’d seen him earlier that day and I remember thinking that was the happiest I’d ever seen him in ages.
“He said ‘Bye, I love you mum, see you on Sunday’ which was Christmas Day. I got a phone call from his wife at 3.15am and she said ‘the police are here, Chris is in a critical condition in the hospital, we don’t know what’s happened but we need to go to hospital.’ “I was driving there thinking he had been in a car accident or something. I eventually got to his wife Emily’s and the police met me there. They said ‘I’m so sorry, Chris has died as a result of his injuries.’ “Life has never been the same since. It’s just like your foot is flat to the floor. We’re still feeling the effects of it now. “I felt numb after that and my whole life has just completely changed. I don’t feel like me anymore. I’m now getting used to living without him, and trying to get used to the new person I am. “It’s completely devastated everybody’s lives, his friends, his family. And for what? For nothing. There was no need for it, absolutely no need for this to have happened to him.” Chris had tried to calm down a man who punched him on his jaw causing him to fall, hitting his head on the ground, suffering a fatal injury. Linda added: “Before, I’d read something like this and then turn the page and it was forgotten. “You felt awful, but then it was forgotten. But you don’t really realise the devastating consequences that one punch can have.” Christopher Thompson