Race Across the World star Sam Gardiner dead

Sam Gardiner, the former BBC personality known for his stint on Race Across the World, has tragically passed away after a car accident in Manchester. The 24 year old was involved in a severe crash last Monday, 26 May, when his car veered off the A34, rolled over and came to rest on its side, as confirmed by Greater Manchester Police. The sad news of Sam's untimely death has prompted an outpouring of tributes online, with fans of the show expressing their shock and sorrow on X, previously known as Twitter.

A fan of the show, Mr3v3ryThang, lamented on X: "RIP Sam Gardiner. Too young too go. Car accident."

Jimmy, another viewer, shared on X: "Devastated to hear the news about Sam Gardiner from #raceacrosstheworld". Lorna_TVeditor, a TV reporter, expressed her condolences through her X account: "What sad news. Sam Gardiner starred in the second series of #RaceAcrossTheWorld alongside his mother.

May he rest in peace.", reports the Mirror[1].

TV and film critic Matthew Rimmer also took to his X account to say: "This is very sad news. R.I.P. Sam Gardiner."

Despite Sam's experience in global expeditions, as seen on the BBC show where he travelled with his mother Jo, the unexpected tragedy has struck. His parents, Jo and Andrew, released a heartrending statement, sharing that they are "devastated" by the loss of their "special" son.

Sam was involved in a fatal car crash (Image: Instagram / Sam Gardiner)

In their poignant statement, they shared: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Sam in a terrible accident. Sam left us far too soon, and while words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special."

Their emotional tribute crafted a picture of a life cut tragically short: "He was willing to go wherever the trail might lead and he touched everyone he met on the road. He found great happiness working as a landscape gardener on the west coast of Scotland. "Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went.

He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we'll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade".

Sam starred on the BBC show with his mum back in 2020 (Image: BBC)

As reported by the Express, Sam ultimately succumbed to his injuries from the crash, with the Greater Manchester Police confirming the sad outcome: "We sadly must confirm that the driver of a white VW Golf R estate involved in a single vehicle collision on Monday 26 May on the A34 in Gatley has since passed away from his injuries. "The driver, a 24-year old man named Sam Gardiner, has been identified.

His loved ones have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time. They have requested privacy. We thank everyone for their kind gestures and support toward Sam and his family during this period."

Following the harrowing aftermath of an accident, the police commented: "Emergency services attended the scene and the driver, a 24 year old man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, sustained serious head injuries and was transported to hospital where he remains in a critical and life-threatening condition." In light of the sombre developments, a representative for Race Across the World remarked: "Everyone who worked with him and indeed everyone who watched Sam could see just how valuable and transformative the journey was for both him and his mum, Jo. "Sam embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result.

"Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends." they added, reflecting on the profound impact his story had on those involved with the series and its viewers. The landscape gardener and his mother Jo were featured as participants in the second season of the BBC programme, which was televised in 2020, documenting their travels through South America.

Despite having to withdraw from the final leg of the race due to financial constraints, both mother and son have fondly reflected on the experience as "life-changing."

References

1. ^ the Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)