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Tragedy as gran is killed on holiday
Sandra Brierley, far left, from Lostock Hall, who was killed whilst on holiday in Kos, Greece.
Tributes were today paid to a grandmother who died after being struck by a car as she sat outside a cafe on holiday.
Sandra Brierley, 62, from Watkin Lane in Lostock Hall, was enjoying a coffee with husband Keith in Kos, a Greek island, when an out-of-control car smashed into where the couple were sitting.
The mum-of-three was killed instantly, and Keith was taken to hospital with injuries to his head and legs.
He has since returned to England and is being comforted by family.
Police in Kardamena, the popular resort where the couple had been staying for just over a week, confirmed the driver was arrested at the scene.
The popular Mrs Brierley, who has been described as a ‘stalwart’ of the Royal British Legion Club on Brownedge Road, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, according to friends.
Michael Turner, secretary of Lostock Hall’s Royal British Legion, has since spoken with Mr Brierley and broke the tragic news to club members.
He said: “It has been such a terrible time for them both recently, and Keith is absolutely devastated.
“The accident happened on Tuesday and Keith stayed in hospital overnight in Kos, but he came home the next day, cutting his holiday short.
“He suffered bruises to his head and legs, but he couldn’t stay out there.
“He came into the club to tell us what had happened and he seemed a bit dazed by it all. I think he was in shock.”
Mr Turner added: “They were sat on a bench outside a cafe just having a coffee when a car came careering round the corner.
“The driver lost control and ploughed right into them.
“Keith said he knew right away that Sandra had been killed.
“The car ended up crashing into a tree.”
Sandra, who was the vice chairman of the local Royal British Legion ‘s Women’s Section, had a major operation before the holiday as part of her treatment for bowel cancer, and Mr Turner said the couple were looking forward to a break. It is understood they had been visiting Kos for 15 years.
He said: “They lived for their holidays,” he said. “They usually had two or three a year, and they liked going to Greece and Spain.
“They would always be away for Christmas and New Year.
“At the club, they usually kept themselves to themselves, but they were stalwarts there. They were members of the committee for a number of years, and they helped out with the Poppy Appeal a lot.
“You could always rely on them - they were rock solid.”
The couple, who have family living in the Preston area, enjoyed going to the club at weekends for a drink together, and Sandra also attended bingo nights.
“She will be missed,” Mr Turner said. “She always put her heart and soul into the region.
“She was very well liked. It’s such a tragedy.”
He added: “You could have heard a pin drop in the club when I announced what had happened last week.”
The Brierleys’ next door neighbour, Daniel Sale, 27, said: “They were really lovely people and I always got on well with them. We helped each other out. The last time I saw them, they asked if I would put their bins out while they were on holiday.
“They’d had a lot of bad luck with Sandra being diagnosed with cancer three or four months ago, and I thought it would be good for them to get away. They deserved a holiday, and it’s terrible that this has happened.”
The 20-year-old Ukranian hotel worker, who was believed to be driving the car at the time, has since been released while the investigation continues.
Dimitris Fortos, from the police department in Kardamena: “A car hit a 62-year-old woman on Tuesday and she was killed. She was on holiday with her husband, and he was taken to hospital.”
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Weather for Preston
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
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