Parents pay tribute to the firefighters who tried to save their son's life

THE parents of a teenager who was killed in a road traffic collision have paid tribute to the firefighters who tried to save his life.

Tim West and Sheena McClelland have raised £14,604 for The Fire Fighters Charity to thank crews for trying to save the life of their son, Lewis West.

They also presented a memorial bench in dedication to their son, which has been placed outside Ramsey Firestation.

Seventeen-year-old Lewis West died on July 10 when his car left St Mary's Road in Ramsey and collided with a derelict building.

Lewis, of Palmers Close, Ramsey was a sales adviser and had only passed his driving test six weeks before the fatal accident.

He was a popular teenager and as firefighters rushed to the accident they recognised the car and knew it was Lewis inside.

Tony Thatcher, watch manager at Ramsey Fire Station, who was on duty that night, said: "Like many of the crew at Ramsey Fire Station, I'd known Lewis nearly all his life and had seen him grow up into a well liked and popular young man.

"We did everything we could to save him, but he had already died due to the impact of the collision."

Graham Stagg, chief fire officer for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "I would like to express my condolences to the family for the loss of their son.

"I would also like to thank them for raising so much money on behalf of the firefighters who tried to save him."

Jon Neish, Cambridgeshire's representative for The Fire Fighters Charity, said: "This is an incredible and unprecedented amount of money raised by the family for The Fire Fighters Charity within Cambridgeshire and possibly across the country.

"I am extremely humbled by the fact that the family wish to support the fire service community as a whole following their tragic loss of their son."

INFORMATION: The Fire Fighters Charity helps firefighters who have been injured while on duty. To make a donation, visit