Tragedy struck the family of former footballer Gary Lineker as it was revealed that his nephew, Jonty, passed away at the age of 18 after being crushed by a falling tree trunk. The heart-wrenching incident, which resulted in a fatal crush injury to Jonty’s abdomen, occurred while he was working on September 6 in Eaton Hastings, Oxon, as revealed during the inquest opened by senior coroner Darren Slater last week.
George Lineker, the 31-year-old cousin of the deceased, took to social media to pay a heartfelt tribute to Jonty, describing him as “one of the nicest boys you’ll ever meet.” Another cousin, Tobias Lineker, 28, shared an emotional post along with an old photo of the smiling teenager, expressing how Jonty was taken from them far too soon and wishing him to rest in peace.
A GoFundMe page was set up in memory of Jonty to support the family in creating a beautiful memorial or event to celebrate his life. The page highlighted Jonty as a “very special” and “beautiful young man,” with the aim of easing the burden of funeral expenses or contributing towards a fitting memorial for him. As donations poured in, the fundraiser has collected £32,000 so far.
Jonty was the nephew of renowned Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, from his first marriage to Michelle Cockayne, with whom he shares four children. Jonty’s mother, Ali, is Michelle’s sister. A date for the full inquest into the tragic incident is yet to be confirmed, as the family and loved ones continue to mourn the loss of the young soul.
The heartbreaking news has deeply impacted the Lineker family and their supporters, with tributes pouring in from all directions for Jonty and his loved ones during this difficult time. Friends, family, and well-wishers have come together to show their support and solidarity as they remember the life and spirit of the young man tragically taken too soon.