THE family of a teenager killed in a road accident while on holiday in Tenerife have called for clearer road signs in the resort.
Liam Robinson died instantly of multiple injuries when he was hit by a car after wandering onto a dual carriageway in Playa de las Americas last week.
The 15-year-old, who was on a family holiday, had been there for only nine and a half hours and had gone for a walk at 9 pm to get to know the area. It was the first time he had stayed in the Island Village apartments where his father Tony had bought a timeshare at Christmas.
Liam was a pupil at the Holy Trinity CE School, in Bank Top, Darwen, and Fishwick School, Preston, before moving to Berkshire with his father, who he had lived with since the age of six.
Mr Robinson, 41, said: "He was walking on his own, and had already got lost once in the afternoon. He took a wrong turning and ended up on the dual carriageway, tried to run across and probably looked the wrong way. That's all I can think. He died instantly.
"It was the first time Liam had been to stay in that apartment. It was his first night, he had only been away from us for three hours. He was full of it, saying how brilliant it was. We told him we were going to bed early but said he could go out, and he said he wasn't going to be late."
At 2am Mr Robinson got a call, and had to identify his son's body at the mortuary. "It was horrendous. But the people over there have been so good, I can't praise them enough. All the staff took it in turns to sit with him until they flew his body home, and the manageress has rung us five or six times since we got home."
Mr Robinson said Liam had been due to take GCSEs next year and wanted to be a sports teacher or a holiday representative.
"He could charm the birds out of the trees. We never had any problems with him, He was very sensible and very grown up," he added.
"He was the sort of boy who made friends very easily and had the ability to attract and get the best out of people, laughing and joking. He had a really dry sense of humour."
He said he felt desperately sorry for the woman who was driving the car that hit Liam.
"We don't hold her responsible at all," he said. "My heart goes out to her. It's just a tragic tragic accident, and an accident that has been waiting to happen.
"They need to put signs up, even if they are small, saying no pedestrians beyond this point.
"Even the staff at the apartments said they had been pleading and begging for signs saying these roads lead to the motorway."
An inquest will be opened tomorrow with the funeral later in the week at St Matthews Parish Church, New Hall Lane, Preston, where Liam was baptised. Interment will follow at Preston New Cemetery.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article