A lasting legacy to Nathan and Debbie

Rodney Edwards • Published 22 Oct 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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Grieving parents feel let down by system

When Debbie Whyte and Nathan Gault were tragically killed in a road accident in Florencecourt last year, their families described their loss as "unbearable".

On the evening of November 27 2008, Debbie, 14 and Nathan, 15, were struck by a car on the Croaghrim Road while walking home from school.

Nathan died at the scene while Debbie lost her battle for life in hospital hours later.

For the distraught families, the close-knit community of Florencecourt and Devenish College, the school that the two friends attended, it was a traumatic and upsetting time as they struggled to come to terms with the news of the teenagers' sad deaths.

Now as they continue to grieve, nearly a year on, the Whyte and Gault family have been offered some comfort.

At a Pupil Road Safety event this week, the Western Education and Library Board launched an initiative aimed at addressing the issue of road safety for young people as a result of the tragic deaths.

If the action plan, drawn up by WELB Officers, representatives from the statutory agencies responsible for pupil road safety and young people is completely implemented, it will save lives - creating a lasting legacy to Debbie and Nathan.

The event, sponsored by Quinn Direct, gave the Pupil Road Safety Focus Group the opportunity to push their message across to the many school children that attended.

Since January, the group have been busy working on a range of specific road safety elements, ranging from policy development to curriculum implementation and evaluation. Development of a dedicated website (www.road2safety.org) and the sourcing of reflective school clothing. Some examples of the reflective strips sown into school blazers were modelled by special guest, former X Factor star Eoghan Quigg.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter at the event, Nathan's mother Joanne said she was "delighted" with the progress that's been made in less than 12 months.

"The amount of work that everyone has done is unbelievable - from the pupils, right up to the Education Minister. It's clear that this is beginning to take shape. Only a good thing can come out of what happened to us." she said.

Joanne still recalls the heart-shattering moment she realised her son had been knocked down and killed; "When I think back to that time, the main thing that sticks in my mind is the blue light flashing on the road as I was approaching my sister's house in Florencecourt. I remembering thinking; 'Oh my God, has Nathan been knocked down?' I knew he was going to my sister's house so I panicked thinking; was he knocked down getting off the bus? Then I found out he had - and he had died." she said.

Colin and Anne Whyte also spoke of the pain they faced last year, saying they were "destroyed" by their daughter Debbie's death; "I didn't think Debbie was going to die, that's the truth." said Colin.

"You just never think that it could happen to you. When I heard she had been knocked down I thought and hoped she'd pull through it, I really did, but she didn't." he said, choking back the tears.

"What happened last year is still very raw; it still hurts. No mother should lose their child. It was a terrible shock; our lives will never be the same again." added Anne.

"But today's event has been a great help, if this could save just one more life then it's worth it. No families should have to go through what we went through." she said.

Also attending the event to lend her support was Education Minister Caitriona Ruane, who said; "Road safety is of paramount importance to me on many levels, not least as a parent. My department has already introduced and supported a number of measures to make travel to and from school safer. 90% of schools have road safety policies in place but more can be done, even one tragic loss is too many." she said.

Devenish College Principal, Mervyn Walker hoped the event would raise the profile of road safety.

"Last year we were shocked and saddened by the loss of Debbie and Nathan. The school as a whole were absolutely devastated by their deaths. It had a massive impact on school life. The atmosphere was sombre - the staff, pupils and their friends, who knew them so well, were deeply upset," he said.

"Devastated what happened, we felt we had to do something to make the journeys for pupils, to and from school that bit safer. Now we must do all that we can to ensure young people are safer on the roads," said Mr. Walker.

Devenish College pupil, Melissa Moorhead, 17, has also played a pivotal role in the initiative. The 17-year-old A Level student said; "We've been working on this since January; the progress that we've all made has been amazing. We're going to keep going until the changes are made."

And Community Safety Superintendent, Alwyn Barton really brought the safety message home, commenting that the worst aspect of policing is "going up to someone's door to break the terrible news that a loved one has lost a life."

"Drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, pedal cyclists - they are all vulnerable. Your life hangs on a thread. Will someone today, reading this, end up being killed in a car crash tonight? It's a possibility. A lapse in concentration or a momentary error of judgement could cost you your life or someone else's life, it is that simple."

"This time last year four lives had been lost in Fermanagh. Nobody anticipated that by the end of November, a further two lives would be taken. We can't reduce the trauma felt by the two families or replace the loss they have suffered. However, what we can try and do is take action to prevent it from happening again." he said.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 22 Oct 09

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