Loved ones pay tribute to 'hero' officers killed in wrong-way crash as fundraiser for families hits six figures

Want LBC stories before everyone else? Set us as your Preferred Source on Google

Pc Clough, 38, died alongside Pc Blades, 37, when a Volkswagen Passat, which was being driven on the wrong side of the dual carriageway at South Bank, collided with their vehicle.

In a heartbreaking tribute, Pc Clough's family said that he had “proudly fought for his country” and had been “always on public duty throughout his short life”.

They hailed him as a "hero with a fantastic sense of humour", adding: "We as a family and Tom's partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community."

They continued: "We as a family and Tom's partner would like to express our sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences from friends, colleagues and the wider community."

Meanwhile, the wife of Pc Blades has said the pain of losing him is "beyond words".

"No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt - my beloved husband, my best friend, and the most devoted father to our two young boys," she said in a statement issued through Cleveland Police.

She added that he was "an adored son and brother, a perfect son-in-law, and the most fun uncle" who was "loved beyond words".

"He gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness," she said.

Read more: Pictured: Five who died in crash which killed two police officers after VW used clone plates and drove wrong way down dual carriageway

Read more: Police aborted pursuit of VW Passat ten seconds before wrong-way A66 crash that killed seven, watchdog says

It comes as a GoFundMe page for the families of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough has raised more than £200,000 at the time of writing.

Cleveland Police Federation are supporting the families and asking for "help to support the families of our two colleagues, to assist them in any way as they try to navigate this traumatic time."

"Any funds raised will be split equally between their two families to be used as they so wish," the page says.

Pc Blades, was a father-of-two who coached his eldest son in football and was looking forward to teaching his youngest for another squad.

A silent prayer vigil will be held at St John the Evangelist Church in South Bank on Monday, in which the parish priest will say: “Say prayers every hour on the hour for those who lost their lives, for their families, friends and colleagues and all who are struggling with the great sense of loss and grief at this time.

”Husband and father-of-two Pc Blades coached his eldest son in football and was looking forward to teaching his youngest for another squad. He had recently become a Seaton Carew FC coach and was preparing for his first turn teaching its under-sevens Seahawks team.

“He was looking forward to being part of the team and, most importantly, to coaching his own son, who is going to be playing for the Seahawks this season,” the club said on social media.“Matty and his oldest son are much-loved members of our club and our U10 Lions football family.”

Meanwhile, FC Hartlepool described Pc Blades as a “much-loved member of our football family”.

The club said: “As coach of our U10 Reds, a team that was made even more special by having his eldest son playing alongside the boys, Matty was so much more than a coach.

“He was a role model, a mentor, a friend, and someone the children looked up to and admired.“He was able to share his love of football with his son while inspiring and supporting every child on the team.”

Fiver others - Michael Robert Cahill, Jacob Matusiak, both 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, and Makai Saddington, 18 - were travelling in the Passat and all died at the scene.

The incident was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which said on Sunday that Pc Blades and Pc Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.

Cleveland Police had received intelligence relating to “numerous incidents” linked to a Passat, the watchdog said in its description of events.

The vehicle, containing the five occupants and believed to have been using cloned plates, was spotted.

The plates had activated an ANPR camera, the IOPC added.

An armed response vehicle started a pursuit that lasted just under seven minutes before the Passat drove on to the A66 in South Bank against the flow of traffic.

Police aborted the chase and continued to travel on the correct side of the carriageway.

The Passat crashed into Pc Blades and Pc Clough’s vehicle around 10 seconds after the pursuit ceased.

IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell paid his condolences to those affected, adding: “We recognise the devastating impact the incident has had on those in the force, and the wider policing community, and offer our condolences.“We have obtained initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log and in-car footage of the incident.

“Work is ongoing to obtain additional material.”

Tributes and messages of support for the families of the five young men have poured in on social media, with many of their friends saying they “can’t believe it” and were “heartbroken” and “lost for words”.

Balloon releases have been announced in their memory, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at different locations including in South Bank.