'It was the longest journey I've ever had'

BROTHER OF MAN KILLED IN CHRISTMAS EVE TRAGEDY RECALLS MOMENT HE LEARNED OF DEATH OF 'CHEERFUL' SIMON, 55

- By BEN HASLAM ECHO Reporter

A DAD-OF-FOUR who died after being hit by a car on Christmas Eve has been described by his brother as a “cheerful person”.

Police said Simon Coombes was in collision with a black Mini Cooper on Marine Drive, Southport, at around 5.30am on December 24.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said last week that the driver stopped at the scene and was assisting with enquiries.

Sitting in the living room of Simon's flat near the centre of Southport, his brother David recalled the moment he was told his brother had been hit.

The 52-year-old, from Bury, said: “I was on the way home from Manchester with my wife - we had just been to see her daughter get engaged.

“We were on the tram when I got a phone call from my sister Kim who said police had been trying to get in touch with her for hours.

“She said Simon had passed away. He'd been knocked down.