An ex-England football captain’s son has been killed in a horror crash involving a tractor.
A man, aged in his 20s, was pronounced dead following a single-vehicle road traffic collision on the A417 in Gloucestershire on Thursday (16 October).
A tractor was travelling past Witcombe on Birdlip Hill when the vehicle reportedly suffered a tyre blowout. The driver lost control and died of his injures at the scene.
The victim has since been named locally as Harley Pearce – the son of England legend Stuart Pearce MBE, from Shalbourne in east Wiltshire.
Stuart, who captained the England team nine times, narrowly survived a horror crash back in 1998 – when his car’s roof was crushed by an overturned lorry.
Earlier this year he suffered a serious medical emergency on a plane at 30,000ft, appearing on ITV This Morning in March to talk about his experience with his wife Carol.
In a heartbreaking tribute, his family wrote: “Our family is truly shocked and utterly heartbroken at the loss of our cherished son and devoted brother, Harley.
“A soul who left an unforgettable imprint on all who knew him.
“He was a golden boy with an infectious smile, and this shocking tragedy will leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.
“With a quiet, understated strength and deep kindness, we are so proud of the young man he had become, exhibiting a wonderful work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in the farming industry.
“He will always be our shining star. Rest in peace, our beautiful son and brother. You will never ever be forgotten.”
According to the Daily Mail, Harley ran his own farming company, Harley Pearce Agricultural Services – working on farms across Wiltshire, Berkshire and Hampshire.
The A417 smash saw police closed the busy road for around 15 hours as forensic collision investigation work was carried out by specialist officers.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed that the man’s next of kin were informed and are being supported.
They added: “Investigating officers are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or has any relevant dashcam footage to get in touch.
“Information can be submitted to police by completing the following online form and quoting incident 284 of 16 October.”
