Tributes pour in for 15-yearold Cairn after bike crash tragedy.

TRAGEDY: ‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t help’ – Good Samaritan who held dying boy

The family of a popular teenager who died after being hit by a car in Dundee have said they are “devastated” by the tragedy.

Cairn Rankine, a 15-year-old Army cadet and football fan, was cycling on Pitkerro Road when he was struck by a black Nissan car.

Paramedics battled for almost an hour to save his life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family paid tribute to the popular S4 Morgan Academy pupil following the accident, which happened at around 7.15pm on Thursday evening.

“As a family we are devastated by our sudden loss. Cairn was a much loved son and was a brother to two sisters,” they said in a statement.

Local residents remained shocked by the tragedy yesterday, placing flowers at the spot close to the Iceland supermarket where he died.

One person placed a card on the scene describing how he had supported the dying teenager after the collision. The man, who signed his name Steve, wrote: “This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do and I can’t for a moment imagine how the people who love you the most are feeling today.

“Although we were strangers I hope you felt the love I have for my son, who is just a little older than you, transfer through us as I held you and the angels took you away.

“Your last moments in life will forever be with me. I’m so, so, so sorry I couldn’t help you other than hold you like you were my own.

“I hope to find you one day and we can finally shake hands and properly get to know one another.

“God bless buddy.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman said special assemblies had been held at Morgan Academy for “shocked and saddened” pupils and staff.

Inspector Greg Burns of Police Scotland’s road policing unit said officers’ thoughts were with the teenager’s family and friends.

Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland, he added.

He said: “Our investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this incident and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the crash to speak to officers.”

Police closed the road on Thursday evening to allow for crash investigations. The driver of the car was uninjured. Officers were not investigating the collision as a hit and run incident, a Police Scotland spokeswoman said later.

Cairn was a Lance Corporal Army cadet in the Medics, along with assisting at Stobswell Army Cadets. He was also described as “a big football fan”.

The Angus and Dundee battalion shared the group’s “great sadness” on social media.

Active Travel group Sustrans, which promotes walking and cycling, postponed the launch of its Bike Life Dundee report, which was scheduled for Monday.

“This is out of respect to his family and friends,” a spokeswoman said.

Picture: Gareth Jennings. A lady leaves flowers at a shrine to Cairn which has appeared near the scene of the tragedy on Pitkerro Road.

Cairn Rankine was an Army cadet and a keen football fan.