Family torn apart after son tragically dies in freak 20ft fall

13 November 2023 , 11:24

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Campbell Hunter died on his university campus (Image: Daily Record)

One family has been torn apart after a tragedy that saw a son die after a 20ft fall.

Campbell Hunter died at hospital, aged just 18, after he had tumbled from a 20ft-high wall. The horrific incident took place in early 2020. At the time, the teen had been studying English Literature, Psychology and Journalism at Strathclyde University.

He had also gone out of his way to help promote the work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) partnership with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan - and how they recruited potential life-saving stem cell donors. He had gotten involved in the Anthony Nola scheme in his final year of school and his dad Lee Payton is a former firefighter.

Campbell’s mum, Gayle Gallagher, 48, said his death had hit the family hard, particularly his younger brothers Ker, four, Jamie, six, and eight-year-old Fearghas, EdinburghLive reported. Now, firefighters have presented an award named in memory of the former pupil of Peebles High School.

The teen had gotten involved with the work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) partnership with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan (Daily Record)

Flower tributes left for the first year university student (Daily Record)

At a ceremony at the SFRS HQ in Cambuslang, near Glasgow, Campbell's proud mum, Gayle Gallagher, 48, presented the inaugural award to St Mungo's High School in Falkirk. Gayle - who is now studying to be a bereavement counsellor - said: "I am just so very proud of him. The outpouring of love and support we got from people was incredible. I did not realise that he had touched so many lives."

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She added: "We did not see much of Campbell before his death because of lockdown restrictions. The outpouring of love and support we got from people was incredible.

"I did not realise that he had touched so many lives. Fearghas and Jamie remember him and miss him, and the hardest thing is when they ask - where is Campbell? If it hadn't been for the wee boys, I don't know what I would have done. They are so full of energy, and they remind me so much of Campbell."

Both the SFRS and Anthony Nolan said their main focus is on recruitment drives throughout secondary schools - as research shows younger stem cell donors lead to more successful transplants. Their partnership has seen more than 19,000 potential donors recruited to the stem cell register since 2009. St Mungo's has already signed up over 260 young people.

Teacher Heather Anderson said: "To receive this award is very humbling and we will continue to try our best to honour Campbell's memory."

Peebles High School teacher Gill Geddes added: "Campbell will always be fondly remembered. His commitment for this cause was clear from the outset." Holly Gooch, of Anthony Nolan, said: "Our partnership with the Scottish Fire Rescue Service is crucial in getting more young people signed up to the stem cell register."

Katie Williams