Tuesday, March 19, 2024
1Sister of soldier Christopher O’Kane pays tribute

Sister of soldier Christopher O’Kane pays tribute

Christopher O'Kane with his girlfriend Laura Walker

By Cara Sulieman

THE heartbroken sister of tragic soldier Christopher O’Kane paid a touching tribute to her brother today.

Krystyle O’Kane wrote a poem for her 26-year-old brother who died from the head injuries he suffered after falling during a pedicab ride in Edinburgh at the weekend.

And she revealed that their mother, Helen O’Kane, also died in a road accident 16 years ago.

Easter holiday

Krystyle wrote on her Facebook page: “My beautiful boy has been taken away, you’re back with our Mum and that’s where you’ll stay.

“But one day I know that we’ll all be together, me you and Mum, Micky, Dad in heaven forever.”

It emerged today that Chris’ mum, Helen, died after she was hit by a lorry on the A1 close to its junction with the A1087 near Dunbar in East Lothian.

The 37-year-old was fatally injured in the crash on January 27, 1994.

She had married husband, Michael O’Kane, just five years earlier and the pair lived in Dunbar.

Christopher – known to his friends as Spud – was on Easter leave when the accident happened on Sunday morning.

He had been out for a late birthday celebration with friends when he fell from the rickshaw in the Festival Square area of Lothian Road at around 2.20am on Sunday morning.

“Never forgotten”

The mechanic, who served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, was rushed to hospital but died on Monday at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Christopher was based at Southampton with 17 Port and Maritime regiment and had been visiting his family in Scotland when the accident happened.

He grew up in East Lothian, attending Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans, and had a lot of family in the area.

His sister’s tribute joined those coming in from Chris’ friends who posted their memories of the soldier on social networking sites.

Schoolfriend Eddie McNaughton wrote: “R.I.P. Chris. Never forgotten.”

Another friend, Holly Napier, wrote: “Miss you so much Chris. You’re the best and you’re the joker.

“To me you’ll never die. R.I.P.”

And Joanne Humphrey added: “Can’t believe it. What a cruel world we live in. Why do the good die young?”

Christopher was in a relationship with Laura Walker, who is believed to live in Southampton.

Related Stories