The family of the young boy who is believed to have died after being struck by lightning on a football field in Blackpool earlier this week have posted a heartfelt tribute.
It was revealed during the touching tribute that nine-year-old was an organ donor.
In a post on Facebook, Matt Banks – the father of Jordan Banks, who sadly died on Tuesday following a tragic incident in Blackpool during adverse weather conditions – shared a series of previously-unseen family photos and said his son’s “kindness has meant that three other children may be able to live”.
“He always told us he wanted to be able to help other people if he could so was a donor and has donated which we know will be what he wanted,” Mr Banks added.
Mr Banks went on to describe Jordan as the “most amazing” person with the “biggest heart”.
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“If I ever could have asked for a perfect child, that was Jordan,” he added.
“He always made sure he looked trendy and liked his outfit. His favourite t-shirt was his Cobra Kai top, as he was obsessed with Cobra Kai.”
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“Not only have I lost my little boy, I have lost my little best mate”.
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It was known that before he died, Jordan – who was a loyal fan of Liverpool FC – was raising money for mental health services in honour of his uncle who took his own life in 2018, and successfully managed to raise a whopping £2,500 in total by running 30 miles in 10 days.
His efforts attracted the attention of his hero, Liverpool footballer James Milner, who sent him a video congratulating him on his “incredible” work, and said: “Just remember you never walk alone, all the boys are behind you… well done bud you should be very proud”.
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Lancashire Police also told of how Jordan left sweets on police cars to help cheer officers up during lockdown earlier this year.
Since news of the tragic incident emerged on Tuesday, a number of poignant tributes have made by members of the local Blackpool community, and messages have been pouring in on social media from all across the UK.
Jordan’s friends have paid tribute with flowers and gifts left at the scene of the incident.
Blackpool Tower was also lit up red and a tweet from the staff at the landmark said: “Yesterday, our community lost one of its brightest lights, so this evening we stand alongside Jordan Banks family, friends and our community to remember a remarkable young man. #LiverpoolFC.”
Tonight, the Blackpool Tower is lit up in red. Yesterday our community lost one of it's brightest lights, so this evening we stand alongside Jordan Banks family, friends and our community to remember a remarkable young man. #LiverpoolFC ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/XoGTV7EYG1
Liverpool FC has made a number of tributes to Jordan on social media, first in an initial tweet on Wednesday which read: “The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Jordan’s family and friends.
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“Rest in peace, Jordan Banks.”
In a follow-up tribute tweet ahead of the club’s Premier League clash with Manchester United, Liverpool FC said: “You’ll Never Walk Alone, Jordan Banks. Nicknamed ‘mini-Milner’ by his coaches, Jordan was a brilliant person, as well as a passionate footballer.
“We’re all thinking of his loved ones tonight”.
The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Jordan's family and friends ❤️
Nicknamed ‘mini-Milner’ by his coaches, Jordan was a brilliant person, as well as a passionate footballer. We’re all thinking of his loved ones tonight ❤️
Ahead of Thursday’s match, Liverpool players also wore shirts with “Jordan 7” on the back in tribute to the nine-year-old, and James Milner later dedicated Liverpool’s victory to the youngster.
He tweeted with a series of heart emojis: “A big win for Jordan.”
A GoFundMe page set up for Jordan’s family has already raised nearly £75,000.
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Tameside police officers hailed ‘absolute heroes’ after saving the life of a seven-year-old girl
Emily Sergeant
Two Tameside police officers have been hailed as “absolute heroes” after saving the life of a seven-year-old little girl.
It comes after emergency services were called to an address in the Greater Manchester borough of Tameside earlier this week (29 November), and found a young girl who was struggling to breath and coughing up blood after choking on a sweet.
Police Constables Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell, from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Tameside division, were first on the scene.
To the huge relief of the girl’s parents, who were said to be “understandably distressed” and concerned for her welfare, PC Kincaid jumped straight into action and was able to utilise his first aid training to full effect by going on to successfully dislodge the sweet from the youngster’s throat, and then helping to calm her down before the paramedics arrived.
Whilst PC Kincaid looked after the little girl, PC Blundell did “everything he could” to help the parents remain calm.
Paramedics then took over once they arrived, and the young girl was taken to hospital as a precaution.
#NEWS | Tameside officers praised for saving the life of a 7-year-old girl who was choking.
The officers used their first aid training to dislodge the sweet, whilst helping the young girl and parents remain calm until paramedics arrived.
Reflecting on the incident, and hailing his officers “absolute heroes”, Superintendent Mike Walsh, from GMP’s Tameside district, said: “PCs Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell acted without hesitation during the incident, and took control of the situation that they were faced with.
“They deserve every credit for staying calm under extreme pressure and for working together as a team and utilising their training to lifesaving effect, and I’m sure the girl’s parents and family will consider them to be absolute heroes.”
“We’re both glad that we were in the right place at the right time,” PC Kincaid added.
“I have a daughter the same age as the little girl who needed our help, and I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was when she started breathing normally and said she was okay after I had managed to dislodge the sweet.
“The little girl gave me a thank you hug before she went to hospital, but I couldn’t have done what I did without PC Blundell’s assistance, so it was a real team effort.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Someone has plastered posters advertising ‘authorised drug zones’ all over Manchester city centre
Daisy Jackson
Posters promoting ‘authorised’ drug use and sales have appeared all over Manchester today.
The posters even include Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council logos – though, obviously, without the consent of either authority.
The fake posters have also been springing up in other cities, with locals in Leeds spotting them all over the place yesterday.
They read: “Crack and heroin zone. The sale and use of Crack and Heroin is authorised in this area.”
The fake posters have been spotted outside the Central Library and in the Northern Quarter, as well as at locations in other parts of the city.
They were quickly removed by authorities, who say they were posted illegally.
West Yorkshire Police said yesterday: “We are aware of fake posters that have been illegally posted at locations in and around Leeds city centre and are making further enquiries.”
Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council have also been approached for comment.
Manchester mayoral candidate Nick Buckey wrote on X: “The lack of action to the drug epidemic in Greater Manchester is so huge that people thought these posters were legitimate.
“When jokes seems like reality then we know we have a problem.”
It appears that the group behind the drug posters project is Pattern Up, a ‘young artist collective from Brighton making their mark on the streets with provocative and witty installations’.
Plenty of people seem to have fallen for the stunt, believing it’s real, with one person posting on Instagram: “Can’t find anything online so surely fake news unless someone has a source.”
Another wrote: “Hahaha f*ck off this can’t be legit.”