Tributes to painter Martin Walczak after fatal cycling accident in Rolvenden Layne near Tenterden
A heartbroken family has paid tribute to their “adventurous” dad and husband after a fatal cycling accident.[1]
Martin Walczak, from Appledore Road in Tenterden[2], was knocked off his bike by a car door.
He tried to avoid it but fell and was hit in the jaw and neck by the bottom of the door.
The 65-year-old was born in Rolvenden and had lived in the Ashford area most of his life.
Jonathan Walczak, Martin’s son, says he feels “robbed” of his dad: “The fact he never got to experience his later life which he hoped and planned for is deeply upsetting.
“Death is sad for many families, but a lot of the time people have years to process and come to terms with someone's death before it happens.
“We were given all of about two days.
“He was incredibly independent and an outdoors person.
“He was also a big disco fan. When we were wheeling him to the anaesthesia room before his final operation, we played Lionel Richie, the Commodores and T. Rex – his favourites.”
The father of two was close to retirement and had planned how he was going to spend it.
“He wanted to go out to Australia to see England play cricket at the Ashes,” Jonathan explained. “He wanted to continue biking, gardening and attending football matches.
“One thing he wanted to do with mum was get a camper van and go around all the major settlements and cities in the UK.
“Because he was fit, healthy and adventurous, he wanted to use all that free time to explore parts of the world.
“He never had that opportunity.”
At around midday on Sunday, March 24, Martin was out for a cycle along Maytham Road in Rolvenden Layne.
He was nearing The Ewe & Lamb pub when the accident happened.
“It had caused a nasty gash,” Jonathan added. “It wasn’t a good wound, it looked pretty gory.
“We were under the impression that it was a near miss. It was close to his carotid artery – my mum, who was a nurse, knew that much.”
After arriving back home, his wife Jane carried out some first aid and kept an eye on him for the rest of the afternoon.
The painter and decorator was a little dazed and said he had a headache, but it was nothing serious.
Around 8.30pm, Martin suffered from what appeared to be a stroke and was immediately taken to William Harvey Hospital.
It was later found he had a brain haemorrhage. A clot had formed in his carotid artery, causing a bleed on the brain.
He had surgery overnight to try and remove the clot.
On Monday, the family were told the damage was so extensive, he wouldn’t be able to live day-to-day the same again.
Jane Walczak, Martin’s wife said: “We both agreed it was quality of life over quantity.
“We regularly spoke about what would happen when the time came, but I didn’t envision it would happen so soon.
“It was a catastrophic brain injury. Doctors explained how he wouldn’t be able to speak, have a lack of cognition and be totally immobile.”
Jane worked as a theatre nurse at Tunbridge Wells[3] Hospital for more than two decades.
The pair met through a dating agency and have been married for 31 years.
Martin passed away on Thursday (March 28), at 1.20am, after his life support was turned off at The Royal London Hospital.
Martin was a self-employed painter and decorator – known as M J Walczak – and had worked in the trade for more than 35 years.
When he was younger, he played for football clubs in Rolvenden, Tenterden and Wittersham, as well as cricket for Stone-in-Oxney.
He leaves behind his wife, Jane, his sons, Jonathan and Andrew, his brothers Michael, Philip and Thomas, as well as his sister, Maureen.
Martin had previously agreed to organ donation and on the day of his death, doctors were able to use both kidneys, liver and heart valves for a life-saving transplant.
Jonathan hopes it will encourage others to register and also spend more time with their family.
“I want people to appreciate their fathers and their parents – hug them and make them realize how special it is to have a good parent,” he said.
‘It makes me very happy to think that the worst day of our lives could be someone's best day.’
“He always expressed and conceded that ultimately if he was involved in something terrible, he'd want someone's son or daughter to have another chance.
“It makes me very happy to think that the worst day of our lives could be someone's best day.”
The accident is under investigation by the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) and officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Dashcam footage can be submitted here.[4]
Anyone who might have CCTV should also call the SCIU witness appeal line on 01622 798538 or email [email protected] quoting HM/032/24.
References
- ^ a fatal cycling accident. (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ Tenterden (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ Tunbridge Wells (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ Dashcam footage can be submitted here. (kep.uk.evidence.com)