The best friend of a man who was killed after a tree fell on him has spoken out about the horrific moments before the tragic accident.
Sam Smart was catching up with his long-time friend Darnell Cordingley, 26, when the pair were shockingly hit by a falling tree in the town of Sale, Greater Manchester last week.
The incident left Sam suffering with serious injuries including including multiple broken bones and a fractured vertebrae, while Darnell, of Altrincham, lost his life, report Manchester Evening News.
Recalling the incident, Sam, who has been in hospital ever since, says the pair were walking down the canal, when they saw a woman had an accident on her bike. The pair swiftly attended to her and called the ambulance.
But moments later, when they went to walk up a street to see something, a tree tumbled to the ground directly on them.
Sam and Darnell met on a trip to the Lake District in Year 9, and became firm friends ever since.
Last Thursday, October 6, the pals met during Darnell's shift as a traffic warden, so they could catch-up.
Speaking about the pair meeting up last week, Sam said: "I met Darnell during his shift as a traffic warden to catch-up and have a walk, we were going down the canal when a woman had an accident with her bike so we attended to her and called for an ambulance.
"We went to walk up a street to see something when the tree fell."
Darnell was hit by a falling tree in Darley Street, at around 3:30pm. Sadly, the 26-year-old was pronounced dead a short time later "despite the best attempts of those in attendance", a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said.
Meanwhile Sam had been left with serious injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he has remained since the incident, saying: "I have three breaks in my left ankle and a column/vertebrae in my lower spine is fractured.
"At the moment we’re waiting to hear from the spinal team if my fracture is safe in just a back brace and will then move onto my ankle. It will need bolts and plates put in.
"Ever since the accident my girlfriend Hannah has been by my side and I’ve been extremely fortunate that the hospital have been allowing her to stay with me through it all.
"I wouldn’t be able to do this without her or all my friends who have been keeping me company."
And from his hospital bed, Sam went on to pay tribute to his dear friend, and said: "Darnell was goofy, random, funny, and will always be my closest friend. Whenever he was grumpy I liked to call him Grumpy Grandad because he’d look like a grandad.
"We loved making videos together as kids, it was fun to edit them and look back at them as we got older. All of us had a love of silly film making and look forward to seeing them all again soon.
"I’m still processing that Darnell is gone, there was a moment in the hospital where I thought that I needed to tell him how I was and what happened but would remember that he’s no longer here. This will take me a long time to process and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. He was like my brother, my best friend.
"Hannah and I keep saying that he will still be the best man at our wedding when we decide to tie the knot in the future."
The friend also went on to thank the Darley Street neighbourhood, who rushed out to help shortly after the tragic accident.
He said the locals, "were all out in force to help on the day of the tree falling," and continued to say that he is: "Hoping when I'm better and mobile in the weeks to come I can visit and thank them all in person."
Darnell's mum, 43-year-old Beth Cordingley, and 23-year-old sister Indio, both paid tribute to Darnell, and said they'd always remember their "world and strength".
Mum Beth said: " Darnell was just a lovely lovely gentle soul. He just wanted to help people, he was always a happy, cheery, positive person. He was the apple of my eye, my world, and my strength. He was a really good son, loving, loyal, always there for us both and always took care of his sister, we’re going to miss him very much.
"Myself and my daughter are absolutely devastated, it's always been us three against the world and nothing can fill the void that's been left in our lives. There's nothing that can fill this emptiness. It’s just tragic, it shouldn’t have happened to him.
"He had a happy and caring soul and always wanted the best for everyone. He could brighten up any room."
Darnell, who spent most of his spare time gaming, loved walking, animals, and playing airsoft.
The straight A student worked hard at South Trafford College to get into five different universities, and settled on UCLAN Preston University to study directing and film - a huge passion which saw him create videos in his spare time for a YouTube channel.
He lived at home with his mum and sister, saving to get onto the property ladder and buy his own home.
The 26-year-olds sister, Indio, 23, also gave a heartwarming tribute to her brother and said: "Darnell was the best big brother anyone could have hoped for. He was always by my side when times got hard and I'm going to miss his comforting presence.
"He genuinely cared about everything and everyone, and he never had an enemy, everyone that met him loved him. Everyone he ever met was friends with him, he never had anything bad to say about anyone, he was just happy to be a part of people’s lives."
Darnell's dad, Leon Doyle, gave a statement through Beth and Indio, which said: "To my beloved son whom had everything to live for, the world will be a darker place without him."
Several other friends, including Daniel Sharples, Darnell's "best friend in the whole world" - who had known him for 21 years - said: "Darney was my best friend ever, the most down to earth and kind person you would ever meet. He can not be replaced and I will miss you always."
A fundraising page for Darnell's family has been set up by Emma Beesley, a close family friend, to help pay for the funeral and help his loved ones.
More than £5,000 has been raised for Darnell's funeral since the fundraising page was set up. Several contributors have left heartfelt comments to the family.
You can donate by visiting the the GoFundMe page.
