A Ramsgate mum has spoken of her “individual and unique” son who sadly lost his life in a crash in Broadstairs during the early hours of Sunday morning (October 1).
Keena Entwistle says son Ethan was “a larger than life character” who loved Anime, computers and gaming and being with his friends.
Ethan, who would have celebrated his 19th birthday yesterday (October 3), was a Broadstairs College student who studied accountancy last year and had just started a mechanics course this year.
Teaching assistant Keena, who is also mum to 15-year-old Thomas, said: “He was one of a kind, individual unique and opinionated.
“He used to love swimming and was a member of Thanet Swim Club and he had been a member of 1st Garlinge Scout Group.
“He loved space when he was younger and wanted to be an astronaut. When he was nine he won a trip to NASA space camp in Florida where he got to try the anti-gravity chamber, met astronauts, went on a local radio station, drove the Mars Rover and many other things.
“He loved the computer and with help from one of his friends built a gaming PC after he got all the bits for his 18th birthday.”
Ethan was in the car with a friend and two associates on their way home from Clique on Ramsgate seafront when the driver crashed into a tree on Dumpton Park Drive at around 3.20am on Sunday.
Keena said: “There was a knock on the door at 4.15am and I thought it was Ethan and that he had forgotten his keys as he never remembered them.
“They asked if Ethan lived here and asked if I was his mum and said they needed to come in. They told me there had been a severe car crash and to prepare myself for the worst. He was being worked on and they said pack a bag as if he was taken to a London hospital they would blue light me there. I got Thomas up and phoned my mum.
“At 4.45am the policeman said he was sorry, Ethan had passed away.”
Ethan’s friend Ben Brazil was also a passenger in the car. Despite suffering injuries including a broken wrist, Ben had climbed through the broken vehicle window to release Ethan’s seatbelt, get him out of the car and carry out CPR until medics arrived.
Keena said: “He kept saying sorry to me for not being able to save Ethan’s life but he did keep him alive until the ambulance came. He managed to get Ethan out of the car and Ethan was 6ft 2 and 17 stone where Ben is only about 5ft 11.
“Ethan’s friends have been fantastic. He had such a lovely group of friends who were always there when he needed them even though he wasn’t the easiest person.”
Yesterday more than 70 family and friends gathered at Ramsgate’s Wetherspoon pub to mark Ethan’s birthday.
Keena said: “It was important to celebrate his birthday in a way Ethan would have enjoyed.
“Every year on the boys’ birth times they get one minute of undivided kisses and Ethan hated it, he said it was the worst minute of the year! Yesterday at 7.22pm me, Thomas and Thomas’s girlfriend went outside and I blew kisses to Ethan and then made Thomas have the minute’s kisses too.”
At the tree where the car crashed dozens of flowers and tributes have been laid. Among them is a memorial birthday card from Keena.
She said: “From the moment he was born he was the beat of my heart and my heart will always beat for him.”
Ethan’s nan, who he and Thomas call MaMa, Laureen added: “Ethan was a pain in the arse but he was a good pain in the arse and he was ours.”
Keena says it is hoped she can begin making funeral arrangements next week. She said: “The funeral will be open to everyone that knew him and will be as crazy as Ethan was, no black but One Piece (anime) T Shirts and bucket hats.”
Ward councillors and residents from the Dumpton Park Drive Safer Roads Action Group have been appealing for safety measures in the road and Keena will be attending their meeting at the Racing Greyhound on October 16 to talk about the devastating impact of her family’s loss.
Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are carrying out enquiries into the circumstances of the crash and would like to hear from anyone who might have witnessed the incident. They are also appealing for anyone with relevant dashcam or CCTV footage taken in the area around the time, to come forward.
Witnesses should call the SCIU appeal line on 01622 798538 quoting reference 01-0212. You can also email [email protected]
CCTV and dashcam footage can submitted via our public portal at https://kep.uk.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/kp-20231001-0212
An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed pending further enquiries.
