Flowers laid in tribute for 20-year-old who died in motorcycle crash are stolen from Ipswich Waterfront
Richard Lungley holds a picture of his son Rhys, 20, at the site of the fatal crash. Richard was shocked to discover flowers the family had laid in his memory at Ipswich Waterfront had been stolen. Picture: ADAM HOWLETT - Credit: Archant
The family of a 20-year-old motorcyclist who died after a collision at Ipswich waterfront three years ago were shocked to discover flowers laid in his memory had been stolen.
The flowers and cards left at Ipswich waterfront on Wednesday. A few hours later they had been stolen. Picture: RICHARD LUNGLEY - Credit: Archant
Rhys Lungley, from Ipswich, died three years ago on Wednesday after coming off his bike near to University of Suffolk waterfront building.
His parents Richard and Sharon visited the site of the tragedy on the anniversary of his death to pay their respects and lay flowers and cards of remembrance.
But they were devastated to discover just a few hours later that the flowers had been stolen and the cards thrown in a nearby bin.
“It is sickening,” said Richard, “it’s despicable.
Rhys Lungley, 20, died after a motorbike crash on the waterfront near the UCS building. Picture: CONTRIBUTED - Credit: Archant
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“The last three years we have gone down there and laid flowers and cards.
“I had spoken to the university to check if they minded and the day before I went into the coffee place to check with them too.
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“We went down there on Wednesday at 12pm and lay three roses - pink, a yellow and a red one - and tied them to the railings with zip ties.
“A friend of Rhy’s, who was really angry rang me at about 7pm and said the flowers had gone.
“It is just so disrespectful.
“Someone just callously tore them off.
“There are some nasty people out there.”
Mr Lungley said he had reported the incident to the police and had checked CCTV footage captured in the area to see if he could identify who took them but to no avail.
Rhys, who worked at Cineworld, died on Saturday July 26, 2014, after the bike he was riding collided with railings and glass near the University Campus Suffolk building on Ipswich waterfront.
The former Otley College student was rushed to Ipswich Hospital by paramedics but nothing could be done to save him.
Rhys, who was a big fan of super heroes, was described by his mother as ‘someone with a heart of gold who would help anyone’.
Richard said the theft of the flowers and cards have shaken the entire family.
He said he couldn’t believe someone would do something so cruel.
“We were all pretty upset by it, he said.
“It was put there for our son.
“We were quite shook up from it, one of my sons went home from work because he was so upset.”
