A MAN who died in a collision in Aveley earlier this week has been described as “one in a million”.
Essex Police is now in a position to identify him as 18‑year‑old George Herd.
George was a passenger in a blue Mini Cooper that was in collision with a black Kia Picanto in Ship Lane, close to Thurrock Football Club, at 11.05pm on Tuesday 20 January.
Sadly, he died at the scene.
In a statement, his family said:
“Our beautiful, kind and caring George. We as a family are devastatingly heartbroken.
“George truly was one in a million.
“Gifted with Asperger’s and ASD, he viewed this world differently through loving eyes and was proud of who he was — as were we.
“He cared for his grandparents and family when they were poorly, always offering cups of tea, running errands and asking if everyone was okay. He was always there for his friends in difficult times.
“He was exceptionally bright, with everything to live for. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
“George enjoyed the simple things in life, preferring the company of his family and his group of fabulous, like‑minded friends. Being surrounded by his own comforts was where he was most content, but he also loved quirky gaming, anime and WrestleMania.
“He worked alongside his brother programming cars, which he really enjoyed, before returning to college.
“He had qualified as an accountant and was partway through a business NVQ with a view to starting his own company.
“George loved his brother Harry and his four sisters – Poppy, Daisy and Lily, who shared his birthday, and especially his youngest sister Rosie – with all his heart.
“He really was the gentle giant of the family. He would have made an amazing husband and father one day, and his life was just getting started.
“His honesty and integrity bordered on hilarity at times.
“He left our home that night happy and laughing, heading for a McDonald’s with one of his best friends. Four minutes later he was no longer with us.
“His TV was left on and his computer was logged in, ‘farming’, awaiting a gaming tournament with his American online friends of five years.
“He was a gifted gamer who everyone wanted on their team. He was loved by absolutely everyone who met him.
“We will never recover from his loss and miss him terribly already. He was the ever‑consistent one in the family – the only one who never lost his phone, keys or bank card, and always knew where everything was.
“He was a kind gentleman with a love for our ponies, cats, dogs and animals. His camera roll was full of photos of them. His outlook on life was love, laughter and being himself.
“It will always be the day our lives changed forever, but as a tribute to him we will try to ‘be more George’.
“We would like to thank the members of the public who first attended the scene and made the initial emergency call, as well as the emergency services who responded.
“Our family arrived moments after as George was on Life360. We witnessed the team’s efficient and tireless efforts, and we are comforted knowing everything possible was done.”
Our enquiries into the collision are continuing and we still need anyone with information to come forward.
We are also now in a position to confirm a second fatality.
The driver of the Kia Picanto, a man aged in his 60s, suffered serious injuries in the collision and has sadly died in hospital. His family have been informed and are being supported.
If you have any information, CCTV, dashcam or other footage relating to this incident, please contact us. Quote incident 1231 of 20 January.
You can submit a report via our website or use our online Live Chat service, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: www.essex.police.uk/digital101
To make an anonymous report, contact independent charity Crimestoppers at crimestoppers-uk.org or call 0800 555 111.
