Teenage Leicester fan, 17, killed in a hit-and-run crash involving a stolen BMW a DAY before his team won the Premier League

  • Samuel Garner, 17, was knocked down and killed by a hit-and-run driver
  • Leicester City fan was killed 24 hours before his team won Premier League
  • He was struck by a stolen black BMW less than a mile from club's stadium
  • Samuel's parents said: 'He was our world and will always be in our hearts'

By SAM TONKIN FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Tragic: Leicester City fan Samuel Garner (pictured), 17, was wearing his Foxes away shirt when he was hit and killed by a stolen black BMW less than a mile from the club's King Power stadium on Sunday night

Tragic: Leicester City fan Samuel Garner (pictured), 17, was wearing his Foxes away shirt when he was hit and killed by a stolen black BMW less than a mile from the club's King Power stadium on Sunday night

A teenage Leicester City fan tragically never got the chance to see his beloved team crowned Premier League champions after being knocked down and killed by a hit-and-run driver just 24 hours before the club sealed their fairytale achievement.

Samuel Garner, 17, was wearing his Foxes away shirt when he was struck by a stolen black BMW less than a mile from the club's King Power stadium at 11pm on Sunday.

The teenager, who had watched Leicester's 1-1 draw with Manchester United hours earlier, was heading into the city centre to celebrate a friend's 18th birthday when he was killed.

Rank outsiders Leicester won the club's first ever top-flight title in their 132-year history on Monday night, despite being 5,000/1 and relegation favourites at the start of the season last August.

Tributes have poured in for Samuel, from Leicester, who was due to turn 18 today.

His parents Scott and Tracie Garner described their son as 'our world' and urged anyone with information about the driver of the stolen BMW 5 to contact police immediately.

In a statement released yesterday, the pair said: 'Samuel was the perfect son, grandson and friend.

'He was thoughtful, loving and had a great sense of humour. He was due to turn 18 tomorrow and we were going to fly out to Prague this morning to celebrate.'

Samuel was a keen wrestling fan and had achieved his second degree black belt in Taekwondo, his parents said, and was due to start an apprenticeship next week.

The statement added: 'He spent Sunday afternoon with his family watching the Leicester City match before heading into the city centre wearing his white LCFC football shirt with some friends to celebrate a friend's birthday.

'He was looking forward to going to a nightclub for the first time and was a typical teenager who loved all sorts of music.

Samuel, who had watched Leicester's 1-1 draw with Manchester United hours earlier, was heading into the city centre to celebrate a friend's 18th birthday when he was killed close to the King Power Stadium (pictured)

Samuel, who had watched Leicester's 1-1 draw with Manchester United hours earlier, was heading into the city centre to celebrate a friend's 18th birthday when he was killed close to the King Power Stadium (pictured)

'HE WAS OUR WORLD': FAMILY PAY TRIBUTE TO TRAGIC LEICESTER FAN

Samuel's parents Scott and Tracie Garner paid tribute to their son.

A statement released yesterday read: 'Samuel was the perfect son, grandson and friend.

'He was thoughtful, loving and had a great sense of humour.

'He was due to turn 18 tomorrow and we were going to fly out to Prague this morning to celebrate. 

'He loved watching wrestling and had achieved his second degree black belt in Taekwondo.

'He spent Sunday afternoon with his family watching the Leicester City match before heading into the city centre wearing his white LCFC football shirt with some friends to celebrate a friend's birthday.

'He was looking forward to going to a nightclub for the first time and was a typical teenager who loved all sorts of music.

'His paternal grandparents, Glenn and Paula, had bought him tickets to see Kasabian at the King Power Stadium for his 18th birthday and he was due to start an apprenticeship next week.

'He was our world and will always be in our hearts.

'Help the police find who was responsible. 

'If you've heard any rumours about who the driver was please come forward.'

'His paternal grandparents, Glenn and Paula, had bought him tickets to see Kasabian at the King Power Stadium for his 18th birthday and he was due to start an apprenticeship next week.

'He was our world and will always be in our hearts.

'Help the police find who was responsible.

'If you've heard any rumours about who the driver was please come forward.'

The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck outside HMP Leicester on Welford Road.

A teenage girl also suffered minor injuries after the BMW ploughed into Samuel and a group of people he was with.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said the BMW had been stolen from the Blaby area of Leicestershire on Friday and was later found burned in Whetstone, Leicestershire, at 3.45am on Monday.

Detective Sergeant Mark Partridge, from East Midlands Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'We are in the process of gathering as much information as possible about the collision and the events leading up to it.

'We would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the BMW prior to the collision.

'Did you see it driving around the city centre or have you heard any rumours about who the driver or the occupants are?

'Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could help us find those responsible.'

A spokesman for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue said: 'The car was well alight when we got there.

'The car was very badly damaged. It suffered 80 per cent damage by fire.'

Welford Road was closed overnight on Sunday to allow a forensic examination at the scene and was re-opened after eight hours.

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