THE head teacher at Dilton Marsh CofE Primary School has paid tribute to eight-year-old Lennix Sutcliffe saying the whole school community has been “devastated” by his loss.
The youngster died following a collision with a car in the quiet cul-de-sac of Woodland View in Dilton Marsh in late afternoon.
Emergency services, including Wiltshire Air Ambulance, were called out to the road at 4.30pm on Saturday, but Lennix was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Sunday, Lennix's family released a statement via Wiltshire Police describing the youngster as "the light of our small village."
Mrs Jill Hibbs, head teacher at Dilton Marsh Primary, said: “The whole school community is devastated by the death of Lennix.
“He was such a great character, full of compassion and with a lovely cheeky side. We will all miss him dreadfully.
“As a school, we are pulling together to support the adults, children and families through this difficult time.
“We are being supported by our trust and Wiltshire local authority to come to terms with this tragedy.”
The school is part of the Acorn Education Trust based in Warminster and has 174 pupils, many of whom would have known Lennix.
Floral tributes have been left on the fence at a nearby park at The Breach in memory of the youngster, who had just celebrated his eighth birthday last month.
Among the tributes was a card from his mother and father which read: 'To my darling boy. Fly high superstar. Love you always mummy and daddy.'
Lennix was fatally injured while on a low-down scooter/toy in Woodland View when a driver was pulling into a driveway.
Despite his grandad Nigel Sutcliffe, an off-duty police officer and another giving emergency CPR, they were unable to save his grandson who died at the scene.
He told the Daily Mail: “I'm broken over it. My little shining star has gone.
"We had a strong bond and we will miss him. I can't understand how something like this can happen."
Lennix’s mother Jackie Meredith added: “He was bubbly and kind, loved by everybody.
“He had so many wonderful friends. He had his birthday two weeks ago and had his whole life ahead of him."
Wiltshire Police said that a man in his 30s was being interviewed 'as is usual in these circumstances'.
They added: “Our thoughts are with the family at this extremely difficult time.”
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