A Race Across the World star has sadly died.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that 24-year-old Sam Gardiner was involved in a car crash on the A34 in Manchester, when his car reportedly left the road and rolled before landing on its side.
He was the only person in the vehicle and was taken to hospital and died of his injuries on Thursday [29 May].
In a statement issued by his loved ones, Sam’s parents Jo and Andrew said: “Sam left us far too soon, and while words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special.”
They said he was “adored by his family” and branded him “loyal, funny and fiercely protective.”
Sam worked as a landscape gardener and appeared on the BBC reality show Race Across the World back in 2020 during the show’s second series.
The mother-son duo did not complete their journey but at the time, Sam described his involvement in the show as a “life changing experience”.
He said: “Mum and I are very close, we often think or say the same things. She has travelled a lot in her life, so I think it would be fun to do it with her.”
In his parents’ statement, they explained that his stint on the show helped him to “open his eyes to the world of adventure”.
Sam’s uncle told BBC: “What you saw was what you got. Sam loved gardening, animals and doing physical activity.”
A Race Across the World spokesperson has also issued a statement following Sam’s untimely death.
They said: “Everyone who worked with him and indeed everyone who watched Sam could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum, Jo.”
“Sam embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result.”
“Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
