‘My youngest boy was my best pal... our house seems so very quiet without him’
The family of Stuart, 21, killed in jet-ski
THE mother of a young body builder who died in a jet-ski accident has told how he spoke about his own funeral shortly before his death.
Twenty-one-year-old Stuart McLevy was killed in a jet-ski accident on Loch Lomond two weeks ago.
His devastated mother, Catherine McLevy, has revealed how Stuart and his brother Thomas had been discussing what music they would have played at their funerals, just weeks before tragedy struck.
That meant the family could honour his wishes, playing his favourite song Now We Are Free from the movie Gladiator at the funeral.
Now his family and friends plan to keep his memory alive with the launch of boxing awards in his honour.
Fighters will compete for the Stuart McLevy white division belts, engraved with an image of him trying out for Mr Scotland, at the Clash of the Titans bouts this year.
Catherine said people used to call Stuart her “bodyguard” because he was always by her side.
In her own words, he was her “best friend” and his loss means life will never be the same again.
She said: “He was never angry. There was no negativity. He loved going out and enjoying himself. He was a bit of a joker too.
“Things will never be the same without him.”
Catherine said the house will now feel extremely quiet.
She said: “This was a noisy house with Stuart. He had friends round all the time.”
Stuart was the last child to leave home and Catherine was very close to her son, taking him to his gym every night.
She also helped prepare huge amounts of chicken and vegetables that he ate every day as part of his bodybuilding regime.
It was this dedication to fitness that saw him come third in last year’s Mr Scotland competition held by the National Amateur Bodybuilding Association.
Stuart’s death at such a young age has left the community in Yoker in shock.
But they have been quick to rally round.
At the family’s home, the living room walls are covered with cards sent by friends and relatives while colourful bouquets of flowers fill the rest of the room.
Catherine said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support we’ve had from everyone. It’s the kindness everyone has shown.”
Catherine said it was a comfort to the family that in recent weeks Stuart had, by sheer chance, discussed what he would want at his funeral.
She said: “Stuart and his brother Thomas were talking about their funeral songs.
“Stuart picked the song from Gladiator – Now We Are Free.”
Thomas said: “It was just when we started talking about Stuart’s funeral that I realised.
“I know that’s the song he would have wanted.”
People attending the funeral