Mum of young dad killed when car hit crowd on Christmas Day describes ‘worst call ever’

The mother of a young dad who died after a car crashed into a crowd in Central London on Christmas Day leaving him with fatal injuries has spoken to Metro of her heartbreak.

Aidan Chapman’s mum Yasemin Akcajoca, 61, told Metro ‘I have lost the light of my life’ and described receiving the ‘worst call ever’ from the hospital.

Dad-of-one Aidan, 25, was killed after a car crashed into revellers in Shaftesbury Avenue in the early hours of Christmas Day.

He died on New Year’s Eve from the injuries he sustained.

Yasemin, an account manager, said her son had been in ‘great spirits’ after spending Christmas Eve with family friends who had flown in from Turkey.

Fighting back tears, she told Metro at the family home in west London: ‘He was the light of everyone’s life he was so unique.

‘On the day it happened he went out with a friend, he had so many friends.

‘I didn’t want him to go out. The last thing he said was ‘I’ll see you in a couple of hours’. Then I got a call at 4am from the hospital. The worst call ever.

‘The police took me to the hospital with blue lights. The journey was a nightmare it seemed to take forever.

‘His injuries were too bad. He did not regain consciousness. I held his hand and spoke to him. It’s heartbreaking. I have lost my best friend.

‘He was a great dad and a friend to all. He loved music and diving he was just such an amazing character.

‘He wanted a career in music, music was his world.’

As well as five-year-old son Connor, Aidan also leaves a 16-year-old sister who were ‘brilliant together and really close,’ his mother told Metro.

She added: ‘He was my best friend I don’t think I will ever recover from this.’

Yasemin told Metro how she didn’t think she would ‘ever be the same again’ after his death.

She said: ‘We have not got his body so we cannot plan the funeral. It’s so stressful, we have been given so little information.

‘My daughter hasn’t come out of her room, we are very broken. I have to go forward for her sake.

‘Aidan’ son is young but his mother said she will keep Aidan’s memory alive with him.’

Flicking though family pictures many with Aidan on holiday in Turkey where the family are originally from she said: ‘He was so beautiful, my beautiful boy.

‘I did my best as a mother, I just wish I could have protected him. I didn’t want him to go out that night.

‘I asked him not to. It could all have been so different. I said ‘stay in with us’ he was only supposed to be gone two hours but he has gone forever.’

She added: ‘We have had such a lack of information, the police have told us very little, it’s frustrating.’

Yasemin is being supported by family and friends some who have flown in from Turkey. 

She added: ‘I have had so many messages and people helping. It’s a reflection of how popular Aidan was.’

Anthony Gilheaney, 30, from Harlow, Essex, was charged with four counts of attempted murder, causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified, driving a motor vehicle dangerously and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

The Metropolitan Police said these charges will be reviewed by the court following Aidan’s death.