‘NO-ONE COULD EVER REPLACE JACK’
Tributes as 22-year-old loses fight for life 4 months after brutal street attack
TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘one of a kind’ 22-year-old who died four months after suffering catastrophic injuries in a street attack.
Jack Sumner was surrounded by family and friends when he lost his fight for life in hospital on Wednesday night.
He had appeared to be on the long road to recovery after being assaulted in Chesterton on June
25.
But the former Chesterton Community Sports College student, right, suffered a bleed on the brain following surgery.
A socially-distanced vigil was held in Chesterton Park on Thursday as a memorial bench was also set up.
Jack’s best mate Conna Brown was by his bedside at the Royal Stoke University Hospital when he died on October 14.
The 22-year-old, from Chesterton, said: “It was so hard. It just feels so unfair. Nobody should have to go what we’re going through.
“He was meant to be on the mend and then he had a massive bleed and that was it, there was nothing more that could be done for him.
“I was glad I could be with him because I needed to say goodbye. It will be something to look back on. “I’ve got so many amazing memories of Jack which will last a lifetime.
“It’s mostly just us messing around and having fun.
“He was one of a kind and was always there to help out. No-one could ever replace him in my heart. He will be my best mate until the day I die.”
Among those attending the vigil was 17-year-old Cole Cadagan, also from Chesterton.
He said: “Jack basically brought me up. He would look out for me and if it wasn’t for Jack, I’d never have met such a brilliant group of mates.
“No-one had a bad word to say about him. He just meant so much to me.
“It was tough not going to see him in hospital because of Covid. It’s made a terrible time even harder.
“We all thought he was going to be OK, but then he went downhill rapidly. Despite everything, his death still came as a huge shock.”
Arlom Spillane was with Jack on the night that he was attacked.
The 20-year-old said: “It’s shocked everyone. We thought he was going to come out the other end.
“It just seems so senseless. He was one of my best friends. He was just so caring.
“We needed to come together to say our goodbyes to him. He would do anything for anyone. He was always trying to help and that’s ended up costing him his life.”
Arlom’s dad, Craig Spillane, gave Jack a job as an electrician’s labourer last summer.
He said: “On the night he was attacked he’d met up with some of his mates in the park for the first time after lockdown was eased.
“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The amount of love we have seen for him since his death has been so moving. He was a genuine, lovable lad.”
Staffordshire Police confirmed that a 17-year-old boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was initially arrested and charged on suspicion of wounding and possessing an offensive weapon. He remains in custody.