An inquest at Blackpool Town Hall was opened and adjourned by Assistant Coroner, Louise Rae, this morning (Thursday 28th September) into the death of 21-year-old Harrison Bretherton who so sadly died following a car crash in Lytham.
Harrison Bretherton was a passenger in a Toyota Landcruiser along with his twin brother James and his girlfriend Anya. The Police were called just after midnight on Thursday 14th September following a report that the car had left Blackpool Road in Lytham and crashed down an embankment. Harrison was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital but so sadly died at 2.28 p.m. the following day (Friday, 15th September). James and Anya suffered serious injuries but have since been discharged from hospital. Senior Coroners’ Officer, Kerry Hall, confirmed that Mr Bretherton had lived on Glen Eldon Road, in St Anne’s.
An 18-year-old man from Lytham, the driver of the Toyota Landcruiser, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
During the brief hearing at Blackpool Town Hall, members of Harrison’s family heard that a post mortem had been carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour. She concluded that the cause of death was cervical spinal injuries and a traumatic brain injury.
Senior Coroner’s Officer Kerry Hall described the circumstances of Harrison’s death, saying ‘Harrison was a rear passenger in a motor vehicle which was involved in a road traffic collision in the early hours of September 14. This was a single vehicle collision which occurred in Blackpool Road. Harrison was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital where he died at 2 p.m. on Friday 15th September.
Today’s inquest was formally opened and adjourned. The coroner’s office was still awaiting further information from the police. Assistant Coroner Louise Rae explained to Harrison’s family that a provisional date for a final inquest has been listed for Thursday 29th February, 2024, at 10 a.m.
Harrison’s funeral is due to be held next week at Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Church at 11 a.m. on Thursday 5th October.
In a heartfelt tribute after Harrison’s death his family said, ‘We’ve been deeply touched by the messages and acts of love and kindness we have received from not just our friends and family, but from the entire local community. Harrison can only be described as a beacon of light that would shine brightly even on the darkest of days. A fun loving, sweet, cheeky, caring boy who left a mark on every person he met. A clever and ambitious young man who had just started a new job at Blackpool Teaching Hospital, with plans to work his way up like his big brother Trafford. He had so many wonderful plans for his life. His last actions on this earth saved the life of his girlfriend Anya and we take comfort in knowing that Harrison’s beautiful nature was there until the very end.
He loved and was loved by everyone around him unconditionally and his time was best spent socialising around Lytham with Anya and his friends or playing with his beloved dog Jack, singing his heart out to The Fray and Taylor Swift, stealing his brethren’s clothes, planning future adventures and milestones with his family and Anya or being the life and soul of every party.
He was passionate and loving yet very gentle and kind. He was never afraid to show his love and while he has been taken, the memories we have will be engraved in our minds and hearts forever, never to fade.
Your laugh, smile and look of “town on?” will be forever in our lives. Loved you then, now and always. We are devastated by the great injustice that has been served to Harrison and the life sentence we as a family and the survivors, Anya and Harrison’s twin James, now have to live with. No family should ever have to experience this pain. This great tragedy that could and should have been avoided.
We want to take this time to thank the responding officers and emergency services as well as all the staff at Royal Preston Hospital who tried to save Harrison’s life and who also saved and cared for Anya and James.
Please can I ask that anyone who has any information or evidence that will help the police with their investigation to come forward and use the contacts provided by Lancashire Constabulary.’
