‘Chad will always be remembered as a lovely, caring boy’
THE devastated family of a popular 18-year-old who died suddenly after returning home following a night out have opened up over their grief.
Chad Holland had been on a night out with his friends on Saturday, August 3, and returned to his home in Griffith Street, Maerdy, in the early hours of the following morning.
He had sent texts to his friends to make sure they got home safe.
He had also sent a text to his mum, Lisa Holland, to let her know he had got in.
But when she went to check on him the next morning in his bedroom, he was found dead.
His family are still awaiting answers on how Chad died, with his inquest yet to be heard.
“My whole world fell apart,” Lisa said. “My heart was broken into a million pieces and my life had changed forever. “It was as if the whole world stood still. “I have not been sleeping or eating since he died, it’s as if my heart won’t accept it.”
Chad was a former Maerdy infants and junior school pupil, and later went to Ferndale comprehensive school and Nantgarw college, where he studied railway engineering for a year, before changing courses to qualify as a barber.
He was due to start work at his cousin’s hairdressing shop the week after he passed away.
He had just passed his driving test and took pride in his Audi car.
The youngster was a keen family man, and had a close bond with his mum, as well as his grandfather Malcolm Holland, who has Parkinson’s Disease. He made sure to spend time with him and get him out of the house as much as he could.
His aunt, Lindsay Holland explained: “It’s something we will never, ever get over. Chad was the rock to the family, he was outgoing, happy. Our family is broken as far as I’m concerned.
“He was full of life and a proper mammy’s boy, he was not shy to say that. They did everything together. He took his mum to the gym, shopping, all sorts.
“He was a handsome boy and always very happy. It’s hard, we have had no answers to what actually happened to him.”
Lisa said: “He was a happy, bubbly character and had a heart of gold. He loved being with his friends and they all loved him.
“He was one of the most popular boys and would be the first one on the dance floor. He was handsome, all the girls would be after Chad and he would always look after his friends.
“He was my amazing beautiful boy and my world. He loved being a mammy’s boy and was so proud of me. He always spoke so highly of me.
“He would go and see his grandfather, who he would call ‘Daddo’ about 10 times a day and in the last five or six weeks before he passed, he got my father out of the house to take him shopping, wheeling him around in his wheelchair, which he enjoyed doing.”
A special tribute was paid to Chad at the weekend, as 65 members of his family and friends decided to climb Pen-y-fan.
It raised more than £500 for 2 Wish Upon A Star, a charity which supports parents, siblings and other family members affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young adult aged 25 and under.
All who took part wore T-shirts with his picture emblazoned on them, along with their own special messages such as: “In loving memory of my boy Chad. Always in my heart.”
Lindsay said: “It was a very, very emotional day. When we got to Pen-y-fan it was raining, but we were determined whether it was rain, show, thunder or lightning we were going up there.
“We had children as young as 10 and people in their seventies taking part. Everyone had T-shirts on with Chad’s face on it and at the top we let balloons off.
“His friends would say on a night out if he had a Jägerbomb he would be happy. So at the top we all had a shot of Jäger.
“We went back to Ferndale Rugby Club for food, and then his local the Maerdy Hotel. When we got to the top there was a mix of happiness and sadness. It brought a lot of comfort to the family to see how liked he was and how many of his friends made the effort to be there with us.
“He will always be remembered for the person he was. He was a lovely, caring boy.”