Just Giving fundraiser for M27 crash victim’s brother
Rafal Kaminski said his family has been left "heartbroken" and "devastated" after the crash near the junction for Eastleigh[1] on February 21 which saw his brother Michal die at the scene.
Since the 36-year-old's death, more than £14,000 has been raised[2] to help Rafal with living costs in the house they shared while he tries to arrange his brother's funeral in Poland.
Michal Kaminski with his brother Rafal (Image: Rafal Kaminski)
The 34-year-old said: "It’s lovely. My parents still don’t believe how people are helpful, they want to help me.
"It’s really kind, people are kind. I really appreciate all the help."
Michal had been delivering flooring in Fareham[4] for Salisbury-based company Salesmark West Ltd when the crash happened, at around midday.
Two other vehicles were involved and Michal's lorry hit an overhead gantry. Paying tribute to his brother, Rafal said he was "such a good guy" and "not only my brother, he was my best friend."
Rafal said: "He was my best mate and he was really a mentor for me. He was such a smart guy. We were really close.
"My parents, they live in Poland, we don’t have a big family. It was only me and Michal and we were really really close.
"It’s really heart-breaking because nothing is going to give him back to us, that’s the worst.
"I really miss him but I know he will be not back anymore. I’ll try to keep going forward but it is really difficult."
Michal left the yard at Amesbury where the siblings both worked at around 10am that day and had delivered to Fareham before driving along the M27.
Rafal said all of the vehicles have trackers and he heard there had been an accident on the motorway so he tried to call his brother but got no response.
Later that evening, after several unanswered calls, he was shown a photo of the crash on social media.
The police knocked at the door soon after.
Michael Kaminski with his brother Rafal and their parents. (Image: Rafal Kaminski)
He said: "I was just in big shock. I literally lost my mind, I was shouting, screaming, crying and everything.
"After eight o’clock we were sitting and someone knocked on the door and I opened the door and I saw the police.
"I knew it straight away, Michal is gone. I keep looking to my window and thinking I am going to see him in one second, it is just so sad. I miss him so much.
"We need to be strong for my brother, I know he would like that. He doesn’t want me to be sad. He will stay in our hearts forever."
Rafal shared all of the bills with his brother, including rent, utilities, vehicle costs and shopping.
The Just Giving fundraiser[5] was set up by his colleagues to help him get back on his feet while he arranged his brother's funeral.
Michal, who moved to the UK from his hometown of Ustka in Northern Poland around 15 years ago had been working as an HGV driver.
His brother said he was a "big Juventus fan" and would often go and play football[6] each week.
He also collected models from movies such as Venom, Spiderman and Transformers.
Michal Kaminski's models that he collected (Image: Rafal Kaminski)
Rafal said he will never get rid of these and now has them in his room.
He is now hoping he will be able to stay in the house he lived in with his brother in Salisbury as "there are so many memories" but is concerned he won't be able to afford to stay.
A 32-year-old man, a 37-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, all of no fixed abode, have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
All three have been released on bail until May 21 while the investigation into what happened continues.
The fundraising page in Michal’s memory can be found here[7].
References
- ^ Eastleigh (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ more than £14,000 has been raised (www.justgiving.com)
- ^ Tribute to M27 lorry crash victim by his boss (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ Fareham (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ Just Giving fundraiser (www.justgiving.com)
- ^ football (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.justgiving.com)