THE BEST friend of a former Callington student who died following a collision in Plymouth last month has set up a fundraising page in order to support the grieving family.

Andy Maddock, from Horrabridge, was a friend of Tom McConnachie, the 34-year-old pedestrian who died following a collision involving a car on February 24.

Andy, who met Tom around ten years ago through playing football for Callington, said: ‘I am opening this fundraiser to try and help the family of Tom through a terrible time. Tom was the victim of a hit and run incident. I say with a heavy heart that he did not survive. I’m hoping with the help of all of you to raise a decent amount of money — money that will help with any issues in terms of funeral costs and other leftover payments that would fall to the family.

‘It would be absolutely incredible if we could meet or beat the target. Little or large donations, they all help! Speaking on behalf of his friends and family, we really cannot thank you enough for donating.’

Andy paid tribute to his best friend and expressed the hole that Tom has left behind: ‘Myself and my fiancée Katie used to “double-date” with him and his partner Christina quite often. On the day/night of his passing we actually went shopping for my wedding in August. We all got suits fitted as he was to be a groomsman. We then went on a night out to celebrate. That was the last time we all saw him. We were close friends and he was definitely one of my best. I miss him, alot. He was genuinely a great, caring, thoughtful person. I decided to set up the fundraiser to honour him — I also really don’t want the family struggling with upcoming costs. They are going through enough as it is.’

Tom grew up and went to both the primary and secondary schools in Callington and was commonly known as Conners growing up. He loved playing football for Callington Colts and continued playing throughout his life and was still playing five-a-side.

His family recently paid tribute to their ‘kind’ and ‘thoughtful’ son, brother and partner: ‘Tom was a kind thoughtful and caring son to his mum Charlotte, brother Hamish and his partner Lina along with his girlfriend Christina who made him extremely happy.

• To donate visit www.gofundme.com and search for Tom McConnachie.