‘I PICKED SAMUEL UP FROM THE ROAD, PUT HIM ON MY LAP AND KISSED HIS HEAD’
Mum of seven-year-old boy who was hit by minibus speaks of her son’s final moments and how the family have found strength after his tragic death
THE grief-stricken family of a young boy who died after a traffic incident have found comfort in touching words he wrote months before his death.
Seven-year-old Samuel Barker tragically died at the scene on the A466 Hereford Road on January 13.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of grief from the community of Monmouth where Samuel lived with his two brothers, mum Cat Barker and dad Jim Barker, and attended Osbaston Church in Wales School.
His family are committed Christians and said they want the seemingly senseless tragedy of their son’s death to be a catalyst for their community’s awakening to faith.
Speaking to Wales on Sunday, Samuel’s mum Cat, who was close by when the incident happened, also shared her sympathy with the driver of the minibus which struck her little boy.
“Samuel was exuberant, bouncy, and there was never a dull moment,” Cat said.
“He often had messy hair, paint on his jumper, and muddy knees.
“He made the best of every moment.”
Speaking at a family friend’s home, Cat said her family had found comfort in words Samuel had written which they felt were given added poignancy in the wake of his death.
“About this time last year I bought some new stationery notebooks for my boys,” she said.
“Samuel was really excited to receive it and he took it off into his bedroom and sat down at his desk and started busily writing away.
Samuel wrote: “I love Jesus and God because they look after me and are nice to me.
“They love me very much and they make me better and they are the best adults in the whole wide world.
“And I love them very very much.” The touching piece of writing has become known to the family as Samuel’s Psalm.
“The Bible tells us that all you need is the faith of a child,” Cat said.
“You don’t need to have a degree in theology or your life together perfectly.
“You just need to say ‘Yes – I believe. Help me in unbelief.’”
Cat said she was there on the day Samuel was killed just a short distance from his home near Monmouth.
“I was there in seconds,” she said. “I picked him up off the road and put him on my lap.
“I knew he was dead straight away and there was no suffering.
“I praised God for his life and that I knew exactly where he was now, and that it had been so quick.
“I kissed his head – his very tousled hair.”
A 45-year-old man from Gloucester was arrested by Gwent Police on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and has since been released under investigation.
Cat said she is feeling “desperately sad” for the driver of the minibus, and is hoping he is not racked with guilt after the incident.
“The driver of the minibus is in our prayers and I feel desperately sad on his behalf,” she said.
“I hope he is not racked with guilt. “One of my hopes is that through this awful event he will come to Christ, but I understand it could be very difficult for him.”
Cat said she and her husband want their son’s death to inspire people to come to their faith.
“So many people have expressed that they wish they had a faith like I do,” she said.
“And I want to tell them that they can.
“God’s love is for everyone.”
Family friends Jo and Chris Walker have set up a crowdfunding campaign in Samuel’s memory.
Part-time biology teacher Jo, 33, said: “People have been saying ‘what
can we do?’ and ‘how can we help?’, especially those who don’t know Cat very well. We linked it to Monmouth New Businesses on Facebook to get the word out.”
The JustGiving page has already raised nearly £7,000 from people who want to support the family.
Cat said she would like the money to be used to build a garden in Osbaston Church in Wales School where Samuel was a popular and happy pupil.
She said she hoped the garden would contain a climbing frame, a “buddy bench” and a Bible verse inscribed on a stone.
■ To find out more about Samuel’s fundraiser visit www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/samuelbarker