Family thanks passers-by after death of 23 year-old

Family thanks passers-by after death of 23 year-old

11 September 2019

RELATIVES of a Downpatrick man who died in a car accident near Lisburn have thanked a passer-by who helped out when they discovered his body.

Twenty three year-old father-of-two, Christopher Casement, lay undiscovered for over a day after his blue Mazda crashed around 7am on Wednesday of last week at the Old Ballynahinch Road.

Police confirmed that the car ended up in a position on the road between the River Road junction and Drennan Road, where it would have been difficult to see.

However, relatives of Mr Casement discovered his body the next day as they searched along this stretch, accompanied by a female driver who had stopped to help them. 

Mr Casement was laid to rest in Struell Cemetery following Requiem Mass at St Colmcille’s Church on the Killough Road in his home town last Saturday morning. 

Mourners were urged to wear the colours of Christopher’s favourite team – Manchester United. 

Speaking ahead of the funeral Mr Casement’s sister, Natalie, said she saw her brother early on Tuesday morning before he left for work. 

She said: “I shouted to Christopher that he’d slept in for work. He replied that that was him up now and began ironing his clothes as he did every morning and headed out the front door about 6.30am.” 

Natalie said she first became concerned when Christopher couldn’t be contacted at around 9.30am. 

She continued: “We just kept ringing him. Me and mummy knew that was strange as he never had his phone out of his hand. 

“We were at work and came home. I put it on Facebook and kept trying to find him. We rang all the hospitals we could think of but there was no sign of him and we rang the police to register him as missing.”

Natalie added: “We would like to personally thank the woman who stopped to help us, if she would like to get in contact with us. If she would prefer not to, we will never forget what she did for us and Christopher. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Downpatrick councillors John Trainor and Oonagh Hanlon have extended their sympathy to the Casement family.

Cllr Trainor said: “Its a very sad story. My heart goes out to his family and my thoughts and prayers are with them and if there is anything I can do for them they only need ask.”

Cllr Hanlon added: “I extend my condolences to the family. To lose anybody under any circumstances is always very tragic, particularly for someone at such a young age.”