‘Every single star in every single sky...’
DEVASTATED PARENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO TODDLER KILLED IN RUNAWAY CAR TRAGEDY
THE one-year-old daughter of a tattoo artist who appeared on TV talent show The Voice died when a car rolled into a wall causing it to collapse.
Pearl Melody Black, described “as bright as the stars” by her parents, was killed while with her father, Paul, who joked he was Sir Tom Jones’ son when he appeared on the BBC show in 2014, and her younger brother, who was also injured.
Police say the Range Rover, which was unoccupied, rolled down a hill at an address in Heolgerrig, Merthyr Tydfil, and into a wall at 1.39pm on Sunday. It is believed the Blacks were walking back from the park when Pearl was injured.
Yesterday, her parents, Mr Black and Gemma Black, paid tribute to the youngster saying “she was the reason we all lived”.
In a statement released by South Wales Police, they said: “Pearl was every single star in every single sky, she was as bright as the stars, when she looked at you with those eyes and she would melt your heart.
“She was the reddest pearl in the
ocean and the sweetest melody ever written. She was the greatest dancer and she has left a massive hole in our hearts, the world will be a darker place without her.”
In 2014, Mr Black, who is well known as a singer and entertainer in the village, appeared on The Voice and managed to convince Will.i.am he was from America after putting on an accent.
Sir Tom had to step in to explain it was “Welsh humour” before ending up on the receiving end of another joke when Mr Black asked him: “Dad, where have you been all these years? Mam said it was the only way I could get to see you.”
One local mother told reporters Mr Black tried to save his daughter from the runaway vehicle.
She said: “Paul threw himself into the way to try to save her. It was very brave but he didn’t have a chance against such a heavy jeep.
“They are a lovely family. Paul is well known in the area because he was on The Voice. He does a lot of singing around here.”
Pearl was taken to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil by air ambulance, but died a short time later.
Her brother had minor injuries, officers said.
Other members of the community were in shock yesterday.
A number of bouquets of flowers and a grey teddy bear were left near the damaged wall by wellwishers.
A neighbour said: “She was such a gorgeous little girl with the most beautiful big brown eyes – it’s heartbreaking. The whole street has been in tears, Pearl was going to be a star like her dad.”
Local mother Rebecca Morgan, 30, said she saw Mr Black standing near the site of the accident from a window on Sunday night.
Ms Morgan said the village had been eerily quiet after the incident. She said she understood that the family had been to the park and were walking back when the accident happened.
A man who lives near where it happened said Pearl’s grandparents lived nearby and that the community was in shock.
“I went to the pub last night and it’s just devastation,” he said. “The village is quiet. It’s not normally like this.”
The homeowner whose garden wall was demolished said: “It is just tragic, harrowing.”
He said he did not want to comment further.
Brenda Meaker, 68, said: “I’ve been here 30 years and I have never heard of anything like that happening. I don’t want to believe it and yet it is true.”
One local woman, who did not want to be named, said she saw police, an ambulance and the fire brigade drive through the village at around 1.50pm.
She said the air ambulance landed near the school just after 2pm.
“My colleague knows the guy (father of the girl) and she rang me later on and said it was a (little) girl and that the handbrake went on the car and it hit the wall and then this happened.”
She said she believed the car involved in the incident did not belong to a family member.
South Wales Police said an investigation was under way to establish how the toddler suffered fatal injuries in the incident.
A force spokesman said: “It is known that an unoccupied Range Rover which had been parked in a driveway, rolled down the hill and collided with a wall which collapsed.
“The family respectfully ask to be left alone to grieve at this very difficult time and are being supported by specially trained officers.”
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.