“Heartbroken” mum pays tribute to “incredibly loved” police officer son killed by train while suspended
The officer was facing a gross misconduct probe
A “heartbroken” mum has paid tribute to her “incredibly loved” police officer son who was killed by a train while suspended amid a gross misconduct probe.
PC Alex Ayre, 24, was killed near Branksome in Dorset on Friday, September 25, resulting in hours of disruption for travellers in Hampshire.
British Transport Police (BTP) said there were no suspicious circumstances and his death would be the subject of an inquest.
The incident near Bournemouth caused disruption to trains between London Waterloo and Weymouth including Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton stations in Hampshire.
Alex’s mum Leah Marchelak has now launched a GoFundMe to raise £10,000 to give her son a fitting funeral send off.
Writing in an emotional post, she said: “I never thought I would ever have to set up a page like this, but after losing my son Alex so suddenly at just 24 years old, our family has been left completely devastated.
“Many of you may already have seen the heart-breaking news about Alex Ayre, badge 0446. Alex sadly passed away at just 24 years old after struggling deeply with his mental health in ways many of us did not fully realise. I don’t want to go into the circumstances of his death, particularly out of respect for Alex and the younger members of our family, but I do want to acknowledge that his passing was sudden and devastating.
“What I want people to remember most is Alex himself - not the way he died. Alex was incredibly loved by so many people - family, friends, childhood friends, colleagues and people whose lives he crossed along the way. The amount of love, messages and support we have already seen has shown us just how much he meant to everyone.
“He was a much loved son, grandson, big brother, little brother, nephew, cousin and best friend. He was handsome, charming, cheeky, caring and the life and soul of the party. He had a way of making people laugh, making people feel included, and being there for others when they needed him.”
Leah, an ambulance care assistant, added: “I genuinely hate having to ask for help, and there is absolutely no expectation for anyone to donate. But if you are able to contribute, no matter how small, it would help take some of the pressure away and allow us to focus on Alex and on getting through these incredibly difficult weeks together.
“If you’re not in a position to donate, simply sharing this page would mean so much to me and my family too.
“I am incredibly grateful for all the love, messages and support already shown to Alex and to all of us. It means more than I can ever properly put into words.
“I just want to give my boy the goodbye he truly deserves, surrounded by all the people whose lives he was such a huge part of, while giving our family the space to grieve without the added worry of how everything will be managed financially.”