PC Matthew Blades, 37, and his colleague PC Tom Clough, 38, were among seven people who died in the South Bank crash which happened at 3.39am on Saturday morning. Five young men in a Volkswagen Passat, which was involved in the accident, also died.
At the time of going to press, an official Cleveland Police GoFundMe appeal has raised a staggering £820,000 for the officers’ families.
PC Blades’ wife, who has not been named, paid a moving tribute to her husband, who was a well-known sporting coach in the town.
She said: “No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt — my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys. He was an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle. He was loved beyond words by all his family and friends, and his loss has left a space that can never be filled. He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness. The pain of losing him is beyond words, and our lives will never be the same. Neither will the love he gave us ever fade.”
She went on: “Our children will grow up knowing what an incredible father he was and will always be, and I will carry his love, his memory and everything we shared with me always. He may have left this world committed to the duty he believed in, but his greatest legacy will always be the love he gave to his family. We would also like to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all of the emergency services and to our police family who have stood beside us through the most difficult time of our lives. The kindness, compassion, love and unwavering support we have received as a family has meant more to us than words could ever express. Every message, visit, gesture of support and every person who has stood alongside us will never be forgotten. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad❤️”
A statement from FC Hartlepool, one of the teams Matthew helped coach, said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that FC Hartlepool share the devastating news of the passing of Matty Blades, a much-loved member of our football family, who tragically lost his life while on duty as a police officer. As coach of our U10 Reds, a team that was made even more special by having his eldest son playing alongside the boys, Matty was so much more than a coach. He was a role model, a mentor, a friend, and someone the children looked up to and admired. He was able to share his love of football with his son while inspiring and supporting every child on the team.”
It went on: “Matty gave his time, energy, and heart to the team. He encouraged the boys, believed in them, supported them, and helped them grow—not only as footballers but as young people. His kindness, patience, and infectious personality made him loved by all who had the privilege of knowing him. The U10 Reds have lost a coach, but our club has lost a truly special person and a valued member of the FC Hartlepool family.”
Matthew was also due to start coaching with Seaton Carew FC’s under-seven Seahawks team who paid their own tribute on social media.
It said: “Matthew was looking forward to being part of the team and, most importantly, to coaching his own son, who is going to be playing for the Seahawks this season. Matty and his oldest son are much-loved members of our club and our U10 Lions football family. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Matty’s wife, his two boys, and all of his family and friends at this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time.”
The family of PC Clough’s also paid tribute to their own, much loved family man, saying: “He was our hero with a fantastic sense of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason. Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life. We as a family and Tom’s partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community”.
Cleveland’s Chief Constable, Victoria Fuller, paid her own heartfelt tribute to the officers. She said: “This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland. This loss is being felt across our communities, by our police family, and by our partner agencies. These were brave officers, protecting our communities and serving our residents. Who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift. My thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone at Cleveland Police, are with their families, friends, colleagues and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.”
She added: “As is mandatory following any death connected to a police incident, we have referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and are fully cooperating with their investigation. While this investigation is ongoing, and out of respect for all those who have lost loved ones, I would strongly urge people to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the families.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has opened an investigation into the tragedy, said initial enquiries revealed the Passat had been pursued by police for just under seven minutes before it turned on to the A66 against the flow of traffic. The police pursuit was then aborted.
The IOPC added: “Approximately 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with another police vehicle which was not involved in the pursuit but in the area to assist in a search for the Passat believed to be using cloned plates that had activated an ANPR camera.”
Author: Hartlepool Life
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