Tragedy for MI6 chief as son is killed in ‘car smash’
THE son of MI6 chief Alex Younger has been killed in a crash on a private estate.
Sam Younger, 22, described as a ‘fun-loving’ young man, died in the early hours of Saturday.
Friends said he was in a car crash but police described it only as a ‘motor vehicle accident’.
His parents yesterday paid tribute to their ‘ wonderful son’, who was studying at the University of Edinburgh, and asked for space so they could ‘remember and celebrate’ him.
Police are investigating the ‘ unexplained’ death but said it did not appear suspicious.
The tragedy took place on an estate in Stirlingshire, Scotland, which police refused to name.
Before going to Edinburgh, Sam studied at Dulwich College, one of the country’s top private schools, which yesterday described him as ‘selfless, big-hearted and fun-loving’.
His tutor at Edinburgh said he had been left ‘devastated’ by the news of Sam’s death, adding that the student had been ‘confident and excited about the future’.
Sam was a keen rugby player and played for Dulwich College in the Under-18s Schools Cup at Twickenham.
After leaving the south London school in 2015, he visited India with friends on a motorbike tour and rode over Khardung La, one of the highest drivable mountain passes in the world.
His family yesterday released a photograph of him enjoying the trip, sporting a rugged beard and wearing a Dulwich College T-shirt.
The student also enjoyed skiing and scuba diving. He was a member of the university sailing society and was regularly pictured exploring the Scottish countryside.
Sam’s father Mr Younger, 55, took on the role of MI6 head – also known by the code letter ‘C’ – in 2014.
An economics graduate, he
‘Excited about the future’
became the 16th person to lead MI6, but the first to be officially named. He is due to stand down in November.
Mr Younger joined the intelligence service as an officer in 1991, holding postings in Europe Before and that, the he Middle was in East. the Army. He is married and has other children. Sam’s personal tutor, Kieran Oberman, a senior political philosophy lecturer from the University of Edinburgh, said last night: ‘Sam was a lovely student – always warm and friendly.
‘He seemed confident and excited about the future. We are devastated by the tragic news of his death and our thoughts are with his family and friends.’ In a touching tribute, Dulwich College said: ‘He loved every brick of the place.’ Former pupils at the school are called Old Alleynians, after the founder, Edward Alleyn, an Elizabethan actor.
The Old Alleynians Association said: ‘It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Sam Younger.
‘Sam died in a car accident in Scotland in the early hours of Saturday morning.
‘A selfless, big- hearted, fun- loving and committed Alleynian, and Old Alleynian, we offer heartfelt condolences to Sam’s family and friends.’
Alumni of the school, where boarding fees are £42,000 a year, include Sir Ernest Shackleton, PG Wodehouse and Nigel Farage. Police Scotland said: ‘ We can confirm that Sam Younger, a 22-year- old student from Edinburgh University, has died following an accident involving a motor vehicle on a private estate in Stirlingshire on Saturday, March 30. ‘The family have provided that they wish privacy and space to remember and celebrate their wonderful son. ‘The death is being treated as unexplained, however there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted [to the coroner] in due course, as is standard procedure.’