Award to keep son's memory alive after canal death

The mum of a boy who died when a car crashed into a canal has thanked a football club for naming an award in his memory.

Cameron Walsh, 16, and his father David Walsh, 40, died on 6 January 2024 when the Mercedes they were travelling in entered Louth Canal close to Tetney Lock, Lincolnshire.

Grimsby Town FC said their young player of the year award would now be named in memory of Cameron, who was a member of the youth team and "left a lasting impression on everyone".

Mum Kerry Walsh said: "I want to keep Cameron's memory alive so what better way to do that than in a club that he loved."

She said the decision was put to her before what would have been Cameron's 19th birthday earlier this year.

"It absolutely warmed my heart. It was very bittersweet, but so loving," she added.

Cameron began playing football at the age of seven as a striker. He "blossomed" when he switched to defence and was called up for the under-18s at the age of 15, Kerry said.

He played for Cleethorpes Town before joining Grimsby Town's youth academy.

Kerry said: "Cameron lived and breathed for football. From a young age he absolutely knew his goal.

"He was going to be a footballer and he was in touching range of it. He was nearly there and dreamed of being on the TV."

Cameron was "the most loving and kind" son.

"He would always give me a kiss before he left the house and always tell you that he loved you," she added.

The club said the award would "ensure Cameron's legacy will live on", with the loss of his life continuing "to be deeply felt across the entire Grimsby Town family".

Neil Woods, the academy manager, described it as "a fitting tribute to an outstanding young man whose life and career were cut far too short".

"Cameron was a wonderful lad with a bright future ahead of him, and it's only right that he continues to be remembered at the football club he loved," he said.

Kerry said David, her partner of 20 years, was also "football through and through".

Cameron had an older sister and brother, as well as a niece whom he and David sadly did not get to meet.

At an inquest into Cameron and David's deaths held in June last year, Marianne Johnson, the assistant coroner for Greater Lincolnshire, concluded the father and son died in a road traffic collision.

David hired the hybrid Mercedes and was travelling with his son along Tetney Lock Road when the car left the road and entered the canal.

Both were pronounced dead after paramedics made resuscitation attempts, the inquest heard.

Kerry said: "There's some days I can go watch the football and I might manage half a game and then it's a bit too much.

"There's other days I can't go at all, but it just depends on your softer days."

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