Phil Spencer's parents have been killed in a tragic car crash on their family farm.
The Location, Location, Location presenter's dad Richard, 89, and mum Anne, 82, died on Friday lunchtime when their car careered into a river. They were on their way to a pub for lunch when their car veered off the access road into a shallow tributary river running through their estate in Littlebourne, near Canterbury, Kent.
Phil's co-host and friend Kirstie Allsopp has said it came as a comfort to the presenter that his parents were together when they died. Emergency services attended the scene, including an air ambulance. Richard and Anne were pulled from the car and taken to hospital. Sadly Richard was pronounced dead and Anne died later. A woman, in her 60s, was also in the car and suffered minor injuries.
The property presenter was with his siblings David, Caryn and Helen last night following the tragedy and have been comforting each other since. Kirstie told The Sun: “I’ve spoken to Phil and it’s tragic for the Spencer family, but his parents were together and that’s something that is a great source of solace to them all. The family is very loving and close."
She added: "This is awful for all of the family, but they were together at the end and they were lovely people." Kirstie shared how Phil's parents were on their way to a pub on Friday afternoon. A close friend of the couple have also described them as a "lovely family" and the news has been "an absolute shock".
Family of great-great-gran, 83, killed by dog call for Bully breed to be bannedPhil lives in Hampshire with his wife Fiona and their two children. He has previously spoke about being a farmer's son and having an "idyllic" childhood. A neighbour saw the emergency services on Friday and said they knew it was a major incident. The woman told the publication the fatal accident happened by a small stone bridge - which some locals considered dangerous.
Kent Police said they were called at 12.36pm to a report of a single -vehicle collision at Littlebourne. A spokesperson said: “Officers attended along with other emergency services and a man and woman in their 80s were taken to a local hospital where they were later pronounced deceased. A third person, a woman in her 60s, was in the vehicle and sustained minor injuries. The next of kin has been informed and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.” Three fire engines and a water rescue unit spent two hours removing the vehicle from the river. It remains unclear who was driving at the time of the accident.