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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Abigail Nicholson

'Popular' dad killed at Switch Island was 'taken too soon'

A 'popular' dad died after storm debris smashed through a van windscreen at Switch Island.

Merseyside Police rushed to Switch Island at 2.10pm on Friday, February 18 following reports of debris hitting a vehicle.

Once at the scene officers found debris from Storm Eunice had flown through the windscreen of a van and hit the passenger, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

READ MORE: The Responder writer leads tributes to Liverpool actress Sylvie Gatrill

The passenger in the van has been formally named as Stephen Matthews, 68, from Aintree.

His family have paid tribute to him and said he was "taken too soon".

They said: “Stephen was a popular and well-known member of the Aintree community who was tragically taken from us too soon.

“The beloved husband of Sylvia and devoted Dad to Jonathan and Robert, he will be sadly missed by all of his family and friends.”

The man driving the van was not injured in the incident.

ECHO readers expressed their heartbreak and left messages of support for Stephen's family.

Pat Moriatis said: "Very sad news my thoughts go out to his family, friends & also to the driver who must be devastated."

Annie Sharpes said: "Such a horrible thing to happen to someone just going about their business. That could've been any one of us. So shocking, poor man."

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