News


Man, 50, dies after river fall


THE Independent Police Com- plaints Commission (IPCC) have been informed after a man with “previous police contact” died after falling into the RiverMedway. Police were called to St Peter


Street at 11.39am on December 1 following reports that the man, aged 50, had fallen into the river. Kent Fire and Rescue Service and


the South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended the area, and the man was airlifted to a London hospital by the air ambulance where hewas pronounced dead. The death is being treated as non-


suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner. Kent Police are appealing forwit-


nesses to the incident; anyonewho may have seen it should call 101 quoting reference 01-0511. Apolice spokesman added: “The


referral to the IPCCismandatory in these circumstances.”


Robbery bid


A TEENAGE boy was reportedly the victim of an attempted robbery in aMaidstone park. The teenager was approached in


the Millennium River Park in the town at around 4pm on Tuesday, December 5, by a man in his 30s or 40swho threatened to assault himif he did not hand over his mobile phone.The boy heldon to his phone and ran fromthe scene. The man is described as of thin


build with tanned skin, short dark hair in aMohican style andwearing a blue jacket and jeans. Witness should call 01622 604100,


quoting reference 5-0905, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Car hit appeal


AMANsufferedserious injuries in a hit-and-run incident involving a car and a pedestrian inMaidstone. Themanwas taken to a local hos-


pital after the incident inLooseRoad at around 7.50pmonNovember 30. Police and ambulance crews at-


tended the scene, and the man was taken to a local hospital for further medical attention. A 51-year-old man fromMaidstone and a 25-year- old man of no fixed address were later arrestedon suspicion of assault.


Burglary plea


POLICE are appealing for informa- tion after a number of valuable items were stolen in a burglary in Loose. Overnight between November 22


and 23, a house in Walnut Tree Lane was burgled. A Range Rover, mobilephone, computers, a bag and a pursewere stolen. They made off with the significant haul sometime between 11pm and 7am the follow- ingmorning.


32 Maidstone East January 2018


downsmail.co.uk


Tragic loss of family of drink drive death


THE family of a teenager who was killed in an horrific car crash inMaid- stone have told howtheir “world fell apart”when he died. Will Funnell’s dad Peter and


grandmother Doreen have spoken in support of this year’s Winter DrinkDrive campaign. Willwas 19when hewas the pas-


senger in a car which went out of control and crashed on the A229 at Linton Hill. The driver, John Junior Forrest (21), was also killed and found to be almost three times over the drink-drive limit. The crash happened in August


2013, and understandably, four years on, life is not the same for his family. Mrs Funnell (72) said: “Myworld


just fell apart.Devastated.No grand- motherwants to hear their grandson has been killed. “This is life now.We look forward


to nothing, we don’t have holidays, we don’t celebrateChristmas at all.” Will is one of 65 people to have


been killed as a result of drink-dri- ving on the county’s roads in the past 10 years. Although the numbers killed on


Kent’s roads hasdroppedin that pe- riod, Kent Police and Kent County Council remain committedto reduc- ing these numbers even further. The festive party season is always


a timewhere the temptationtodrink and drive may be higher, but the warnings fromofficials remainstark. Vicky Harvey from KCC’s Road


Safety Team said: “All of these deaths could have been prevented. Drivers cannot be sure of the effect drink is having on their reaction times and ability to drive, until it is too late. “Even the smallest amount of al- cohol will affect the ability to drive


The family ofWill Funnell, who died when he was passenger in a car driven by a drink-driver, continues to suffer four years after his death


safely. The choice you make as to whether you drink and drive is a consciousdecision; somake the right choice. “Drivers must understand that


they do not have to be drunk to be dangerous. Just one drink can in- crease the chances of themhaving a crash, sometimes with tragic conse- quences for the victims and their families. My message is simple: if you are driving just consider, is one drinkworth it?” Will Funnell’s grandmother


added: “If you’re out and you think your driver’s been drinking, don’t get in the car.Get a taxi. “Yourparentswill be better off an-


swering the door and paying a taxi than later on getting a knock at the door andthepolice coming roundto


say that you’ve been killed in a car crash. “You all have a choice. Unfortu-


nately, Will made the wrong choice.” Mr Funnell, fromBiddenden, said:


“Will has gone. I will never be able to see him again, touch him, talk to him, do anything with him again – that’s it, he’s gone, just like that. “We might only be four years


down the line, but I can tell you now I miss him more every day, every week. Imagine if you kill someone else, your family has then got that to dealwith. Two of his closest friends can’t even speak about it. So, in ac- tual fact, that number 65doesn’t rep- resent the amount of lives ruined.” Sixty-five peoplepaidtheultimate


price.” Sparring injury halts boxer’s progress


MAIDSTONE super-lightweight prospectGeorgeHen- non was forced to withdraw fromhis scheduled fight in London. A strained bicep is responsible for the reluctant


decision by the 23-year-old, who was due to have his sixth professional bout on the bumper FrankWarren promoted show at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, December 9. Hennon told fans: “I’ve had to pull out due to a


‘significant strain’ onmy bicep. It’s stoppingme frombeing able to straightenmy arm.” The injury happened during a sparring round. He added: “No one ismore gutted and devastated


than I am. “This is boxing, and this is life, I suppose.” The former amateur kick-boxer, who last fought in


July 2016, thanked his supporters and sponsors for their continued support.


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