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Another sad story..
They just couldn’t live without Sam... their happy little miracle
He was their life ... brave Sam smiles with his devoted parents Neil and Kazumi Puttick
By JOHN COLES
and JAMIE PYATT
Devoted Neil and Kazumi Puttick drove through the sunshine in their silver people carrier on their final family outing.
They took five-year-old Sam's body 120 miles to Beachy Head. Once there they leaped 400ft from clifftops - Neil carrying Sam in one rucksack and Japanese-born Kazumi carrying his favourite toys in another.
Yesterday stunned neighbours told how the couple simply could not cope with the death from meningitis of the happy son they called their little miracle.
One said: “They loved Sam so much. It must have been too much for them to go on without him.
“I cannot stop crying thinking about the despair they must have been in. I just pray they are all together in heaven reunited and happy again.
Loving Neil, 34, and Kazumi, 44, had given up their jobs to care for Sam after a car crash paralysed him from the neck down at the age of 16 months.
They set up a fundraising internet site which drew donations from 33 countries and attracted a network of friends around the world.
Neil told them in his blog: “Sam was a miracle when he came to us, it was a miracle he survived the crash and it will be a miracle when he recovers.”
When Sam’s life was transformed by a computer he could use through lip and chin movements, Neil wrote: “You have given us as a family a chance to see our son growing despite the accident into the same person he would always have been.
“You have given him that opportunity and for that I will always be thankful”.
Sam was often seen out in his motorised wheelchair, accompanied by his parents and the family labrador Cosmo. And there were regular children’s parties at their adapted farm in the tight knit hamlet of Brokerswood, Wilts.
Despite his disability, Sam would dazzle neighbours and friends with his bright smile.
A close woman friend of the Putticks, who asked not to be named, said: “Sam had the most beautiful face I had ever seen on a child — he truly had the face of an angel. He was always smiling and a little fighter.”
Another said: “They cared for that little boy 150 per cent and tried to make his life as happy as they could. They tried to make every day fun for him.”
Sue Hawkins, 41, whose husband Dave worked on the Putticks’ farm, said: “Sam used to come up and visit our orphaned lambs and he would name them.”
Then — in the cruellest of blows — he was struck by meningitis, which his weakened body just could not fight off.
Doctors told Neil and Kazumi that he could not be saved, and they returned with him to Wishing Well Farm where he could die in peace.
He passed away hours later at 8pm on Friday. His parents' bodies were spotted on a 100ft ledge on Sunday night but could not be recovered until Monday morning. Sam was only found when a coastguard opened the rucksacks.
Converted home ... family's Wishing Well Farm
Converted home ... family's Wishing Well Farm
The family’s adapted VW vehicle was found 150 yards from the edge of the 500ft cliff, a well-known suicide spot in East Sussex.
Inside police found a half-eaten banana, an open family-sized packet of peanuts and a toy tractor hanging from the rear view mirror.
It is believed that a number of notes to close relatives were found at their farmhouse. Last night a bunch of white lilies had been placed at the front door.
A new message on the family’s website said: “It is with great sadness we have to share the terrible news about Neil, Kazumi and Sam.
“Sam died from meningitis on Friday and it seems that Neil and Kazumi took their own lives shortly after that.
Wished
“We are all very shocked at this terrible news and thinking of everyone who cared for Sam or were close to Neil and Kazumi who are dealing with this tragic situation.
“We are all better for knowing them and Sam could not have wished for better parents.
The site had recently reached a £30,000 target and helped buy not only the electric wheelchair but also a special “off-road” buggy.
Kazumi had joyfully described how Neil had taken Sam to the beach with it, adding: “He would be down there with the other kids splashing through the waves as fast as Dad can push him.”
Sam got a special treadmill with harnesses in an attempt to teach him to walk. Kazumi told wellwishers: “Sam was watching himself walking in the mirror and it was really lovely for us to see him stand with out any hard support — we simply cuddled him and cried.”
Proud Neil wrote: “Even though Sam can’t move below his neck he fills a room with his character and chat and it is an absolute joy to us to see what he will say next.
“It is normally, ‘If I am good can I have another present please!’
“All this from a boy given no chance of survival after the accident. He is growing up so quickly and is so intelligent and mischievous. We cannot thank all of you enough for your help.”
Just months before meningitis struck, the couple wrote: “Sam loves his life and he is simply the happiest boy in the world.”
Yesterday Samuel’s head teacher Mary Murray said at Westbury Leigh Primary School: “It has been a real privilege to have him with us. He was a determined and happy little boy.
“The whole school community will miss Sam’s cheeky smile.”
They just couldn’t live without Sam... their happy little miracle
He was their life ... brave Sam smiles with his devoted parents Neil and Kazumi Puttick
By JOHN COLES
and JAMIE PYATT
Devoted Neil and Kazumi Puttick drove through the sunshine in their silver people carrier on their final family outing.
They took five-year-old Sam's body 120 miles to Beachy Head. Once there they leaped 400ft from clifftops - Neil carrying Sam in one rucksack and Japanese-born Kazumi carrying his favourite toys in another.
Yesterday stunned neighbours told how the couple simply could not cope with the death from meningitis of the happy son they called their little miracle.
One said: “They loved Sam so much. It must have been too much for them to go on without him.
“I cannot stop crying thinking about the despair they must have been in. I just pray they are all together in heaven reunited and happy again.
Loving Neil, 34, and Kazumi, 44, had given up their jobs to care for Sam after a car crash paralysed him from the neck down at the age of 16 months.
They set up a fundraising internet site which drew donations from 33 countries and attracted a network of friends around the world.
Neil told them in his blog: “Sam was a miracle when he came to us, it was a miracle he survived the crash and it will be a miracle when he recovers.”
When Sam’s life was transformed by a computer he could use through lip and chin movements, Neil wrote: “You have given us as a family a chance to see our son growing despite the accident into the same person he would always have been.
“You have given him that opportunity and for that I will always be thankful”.
Sam was often seen out in his motorised wheelchair, accompanied by his parents and the family labrador Cosmo. And there were regular children’s parties at their adapted farm in the tight knit hamlet of Brokerswood, Wilts.
Despite his disability, Sam would dazzle neighbours and friends with his bright smile.
A close woman friend of the Putticks, who asked not to be named, said: “Sam had the most beautiful face I had ever seen on a child — he truly had the face of an angel. He was always smiling and a little fighter.”
Another said: “They cared for that little boy 150 per cent and tried to make his life as happy as they could. They tried to make every day fun for him.”
Sue Hawkins, 41, whose husband Dave worked on the Putticks’ farm, said: “Sam used to come up and visit our orphaned lambs and he would name them.”
Then — in the cruellest of blows — he was struck by meningitis, which his weakened body just could not fight off.
Doctors told Neil and Kazumi that he could not be saved, and they returned with him to Wishing Well Farm where he could die in peace.
He passed away hours later at 8pm on Friday. His parents' bodies were spotted on a 100ft ledge on Sunday night but could not be recovered until Monday morning. Sam was only found when a coastguard opened the rucksacks.
Converted home ... family's Wishing Well Farm
Converted home ... family's Wishing Well Farm
The family’s adapted VW vehicle was found 150 yards from the edge of the 500ft cliff, a well-known suicide spot in East Sussex.
Inside police found a half-eaten banana, an open family-sized packet of peanuts and a toy tractor hanging from the rear view mirror.
It is believed that a number of notes to close relatives were found at their farmhouse. Last night a bunch of white lilies had been placed at the front door.
A new message on the family’s website said: “It is with great sadness we have to share the terrible news about Neil, Kazumi and Sam.
“Sam died from meningitis on Friday and it seems that Neil and Kazumi took their own lives shortly after that.
Wished
“We are all very shocked at this terrible news and thinking of everyone who cared for Sam or were close to Neil and Kazumi who are dealing with this tragic situation.
“We are all better for knowing them and Sam could not have wished for better parents.
The site had recently reached a £30,000 target and helped buy not only the electric wheelchair but also a special “off-road” buggy.
Kazumi had joyfully described how Neil had taken Sam to the beach with it, adding: “He would be down there with the other kids splashing through the waves as fast as Dad can push him.”
Sam got a special treadmill with harnesses in an attempt to teach him to walk. Kazumi told wellwishers: “Sam was watching himself walking in the mirror and it was really lovely for us to see him stand with out any hard support — we simply cuddled him and cried.”
Proud Neil wrote: “Even though Sam can’t move below his neck he fills a room with his character and chat and it is an absolute joy to us to see what he will say next.
“It is normally, ‘If I am good can I have another present please!’
“All this from a boy given no chance of survival after the accident. He is growing up so quickly and is so intelligent and mischievous. We cannot thank all of you enough for your help.”
Just months before meningitis struck, the couple wrote: “Sam loves his life and he is simply the happiest boy in the world.”
Yesterday Samuel’s head teacher Mary Murray said at Westbury Leigh Primary School: “It has been a real privilege to have him with us. He was a determined and happy little boy.
“The whole school community will miss Sam’s cheeky smile.”