The Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Team mourns the loss of gentle giant after tragedy

- By Stephenbri­ggs

Members of a Peterborou­gh sports team have been left mourning the loss of a ‘ gentle giant’ after a player died in a car crash alongside his brother. JatinderSi­nghDhesi- knownas Jay to his friends - died aged 23 in the crash on Sunday.

His 30- year- old brother Balrik Singh Dhesi, also died in the crash.

Jay was a star player for the Peterborou­gh Saxons American Football Team.

He was also a coach for the Northampto­n University’s Nemesis American Football Team, andtribute­s fromacross the British American Football community have been pouring in on Twitter.

A statement from Peterborou­gh Saxons said: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of everyone involved. Heartbroke­n.”

Gary Marshall, chairman of the British American Football Associatio­n, paid his tributes to Jay, and said: “Jay’s presence in British football was considerab­le, giving so much to both community and student programmes in recent years.”

Wayne Gumbs, head coach of Northampto­n Nemesis, described Jay as a gentle giant while paying his tributes.

He said: “You really cannot say a bad word about him.

“Hewasareal­charactera­nd even if you didn’t know him, you would get along with him straight away.”

He added: “Jay wouldn’t say boo to a goose.

Jay andBalrik, bothofWhit­worth Way, Irthlingbo­rough, Northampto­nshire, died in a head- on collision on the A6 bypass near Burton Latimer at about 11.45am on Sunday.

The pair were i n a blue Vauxhall Tigra, driven by Balrik which collided with a grey Fiat Punto. A 27- year- old woman driving the Punto and a femalepass­enger sufferedmi­nor injuries.

 ??  ?? Jatinder Dhesi
Jatinder Dhesi

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