Family pay tribute to ‘fantastic dad’ killed in ’50mph’ automobile ram assault

A father who died when a automobile ploughed right into a crowd of individuals as he was attempting to help a stranger was right this moment praised as a ‘fantastic husband and pop’ by his household.

Christian Marriott, 46, had been strolling together with his younger household when was killed by a automobile pushed at a gaggle in Sheffield after he had stopped to assist an injured lady.

He was out together with his spouse and two sons aged eight and 6 when he noticed the lady who was unconscious after being critically injured in a fracas a marriage social gathering.

Mr Marriott is claimed to have left his household and stopped to provide her first support as she was mendacity in a cul-de-sac – earlier than the automobile was pushed on the group round him.

South Yorkshire Police stated seven different folks suffered accidents throughout the incident simply after 2pm on Wednesday within the metropolis’s suburb of Burngreave. They included the unconscious lady and an off-duty midwife who had additionally stopped to assist.

After the pressure confirmed two males aged 23 and 55 had been arrested on suspicion of homicide and tried homicide, Mr Marriot’s household described him as ‘a beautiful husband, dad, brother, uncle – and pal to many’ in an emotional assertion.

They stated he devoted a lot of his life to serving to others together with at Sheffield College, Jubilee Foodbank and Debt Advice, Voluntary Action Sheffield, Community Money Advice (CMA) and as a trustee of MASKK (Manor and Castle After School and Kids Klubs).

They continued: ‘The circumstances of his demise, though tragic and unfathomable to us his household, present the type of man he was – to go to assist quite than to show away.

‘Chris was additionally a person of religion who wished others to additionally expertise the enjoyment he had discovered trusting in Jesus. We take consolation in these most troublesome of instances in our perception that he’s together with his Lord and Saviour, whereas we mourn his loss.’

His household additionally urged anybody with any info to share it ‘in order that we will perceive higher the circumstances by which he died’.

The pressure stated a 23-year-old man arrested on suspicion of homicide and tried homicide remained in police custody right this moment.

A 55-year-old man arrested on suspicion of homicide and tried homicide has now been launched on police bail.

It comes as tributes continued to mount for Mr Marriott, who has been described as a “Good Samaritan” by police and was a much-loved member of his church, City Church in Sheffield.

The church group ChristCentral, which incorporates City Church, stated in a press release that everybody was “deeply shocked” by Mr Marriott’s demise.

It stated: “Chris died doing what so many will remember him for, helping others.

“He had stopped to assist an unconscious lady mendacity on the street and as he was offering first support, a automobile collided with Chris, the lady and others.

“Our thoughts and prayers are obviously with his wife, and their two young sons. This is an unbelievably awful situation and we are heartbroken for the family.

“Please pray for them, for Chris’ wider household and buddies, and for City Church Sheffield as they attempt to course of this loss.”

Mr Marriott worked as IT manager for the charity Community Money Advice (CMA).

Heather Keates, the founder and chief executive of CMA, said: “He wished to provide folks hope and, subsequently, he was ready to go the additional mile for folks.

“His generosity, his care for people, his compassion for people, this was the root of who he was. He was a caring and compassionate man.

“He wished to make a distinction in his neighborhood and he made a giant distinction.”

She added: “He leaves a spouse and two younger kids. That’s our largest concern now, for the household and the way they transfer ahead.”

Ms Keates said Mr Marriott had died in “really tragic circumstances”, adding that he was “utterly irreplaceable” to the charity, which runs 180 face-to-face advice centres.

He worked as its IT manager since 2021 but had previously run one of the charity’s advice centres in Sheffield.

Ms Keates said: “He understood it from the IT facet and he understood it from the shoppers facet too.”

And she added: “His talent set was so full and specialised.”

Mr Marriott’s brother-in-law Luke Tonge said on Facebook: “Our Chris was a sort man who cherished his household and really lived to assist others – and our hearts are damaged.

“Please pray for my sister and their boys, and the family & friends who are grieving such an incalculable loss.”

Police confirmed that Mr Marriott was out for a post-Christmas stroll together with his household when he went to assistance from the injured lady.

It is believed the lady had been concerned in an altercation and a number of other different folks suffered accidents throughout the incident, together with an off-duty midwife who had additionally stopped to assist.

A police spokeswoman stated the lady Mr Marriott was serving to stays in hospital in a life-threatening situation.

She stated the off-duty midwife suffered minor accidents, one other man acquired critical accidents which aren’t believed to be life-threatening and 4 additional folks, three girls and a person, suffered minor accidents.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Knowles stated: “This is an utterly heartbreaking case in which a Good Samaritan, who had stepped in to help a stranger in their time of need, has lost his life.

“Chris leaves behind a loving household together with his devastated spouse and two younger sons.

“We are absolutely determined to secure justice for Chris and his loved ones following this horrific tragedy.”

Burngreave residents stated the incident occurred exterior a home on the junction of College Close and College Court, two quiet cul-de-sacs of contemporary homes close to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital.

Neighbours stated the altercation was associated to some sort of dispute between two households referring to a marriage.

Mr Knowles stated: “Increased patrols will continue in the area in the coming days and local people will continue to see officers carrying out inquiries, including going house to house to gather witness statements.

“There are folks in that neighborhood who maintain info which is important to our investigation and haven’t but given statements.

“I want to be able to get to the bottom of what happened for Chris and his family. I need those people with information to do the right thing.”

Tarek Nayli, 49, stated he got here out of his close by house to see combating on the street, plenty of injured folks and neighbours telling him there have been others trapped beneath a automobile.

Mr Nayli stated: “I heard a lot of sound, a lot of voices, a lot of shouting. When I came out, I found people all gathering around and people fighting. One guy had a lot of blood on his face.”

Mr Nayli stated: “The whole neighbourhood was out.”

He stated: “They said there were people underneath the car and when the police came they managed to get them out. When the police came, they flipped the car over and they’ve taken two people out.”

He stated: “It was very, very sad and also very upsetting and I couldn’t believe it. All of a sudden you find people dead and a very big crime. This is a disaster.”

A police spokesman stated right this moment: ‘We are persevering with to enchantment for dashcam, CCTV footage and knowledge that may help detectives with their inquiry to know the circumstances that has led to Chris’ demise and guarantee these accountable are introduced earlier than the courts.

‘Officers stay within the Burgreave space finishing up home to deal with enquiries.’

South Yorkshire Police urged anybody with info to talk to the officers finishing up enquiries in Burgreave right this moment, report it on-line through stay chat or name 101 quoting incident quantity 459 of December 27, 2023. Footage could be submitted through e mail to [email protected] with the incident quantity within the topic line. Alternatively, folks can anonymously go on particulars to Crimestoppers by calling freephone 0800 555 111 or finishing a web based type at crimestoppers-uk.org.