A couple suffering a lifetime of heartache after their son was killed by a drink-driver have shared their feelings in support of a Humberside Police awareness campaign.
Paul and Elaine Ramsden are the parents of Alex Ramsden, 30, who died while walking home after meeting a friend in February 2024. He was hit by BMW driver Thomas Sanigar, 39, of Tiverton Street, Cleethorpes, who pleaded guilty in November to causing Alex's death by dangerous driving and was jailed for nine years and nine months, and banned from driving for 16 years.
Sanigar was driving two friends along the 30mph Great Coates Road and lost control of his car at a speed of around 64mph, hitting Alex and a lamppost. He was over twice the legal limit for driving.
Paul and Elaine have spoken on video as part of the police #one_second campaign, which highlights that it only takes one second to take a life and urges people to “drive safe, every time”. In the heartbreaking recording, Alex’s dad said: “When I heard he was a drunk-driver, to be honest, it didn’t matter, Alex had been killed, we were dealing with the death of our boy.
“But as time went on, and you talk about a drink-driver taking a life, it’s every day. We see people driving badly, driving erratically, driving stupid, dangerous, all the time.
“Apart from the police coming round, apart from going to the morgue to identify him, both my wife and myself ended up on medication, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t settle, it doesn’t work.
“It’s all the time, it’s there all the time. The impact on your life you cannot describe. You don’t tend to move forward. You just tend to live in the moment. It’s one day at a time.
“We’ve been through shutting down his credit card, shutting down his driving licence, closing Alex’s life. We’ve been through all that. You don’t get over that, you cannot get over that.”
Alex’s mum said: “There are no words to describe how you feel. He’s not there. His car’s not drawing up at the gate.
“There’s no words. He’s gone.”
Paul said there were reminders of his son, everywhere he looked. “He was kind, he was loving, he was generous.
“Alex was an intervention tutor, he taught at Bishop Burton College, Riseholme College, Scunthorpe UTC, and he taught people that were struggling. The way Alex was, because of the impact he had at colleges with his students and his tutors, all three have put forward an annual award in his name, an annual literacy award, specifically in Alex’s name.”
Elaine said: “He was fantastic. Best son ever. I know we’ve got another son and he won’t mind me saying, but no, Alex was brilliant.
“He was caring, loving, funny, highly intelligent, but it’s wrong, it should be him visiting us, not the other way round. He was 30 years old. He shouldn’t be where he is.”
Paul said: “If I was to speak to somebody coming out of a pub, climbing in the car, you would ask, ‘What are you doing? Are you going to pick your mate up? Are you saving money on a taxi fare?’
“What I care about is the fact that they may kill somebody like my boy, completely innocent. Think about what you’re doing. Stop. Put your keys down. Get a taxi.”
In posting the video, Humberside Police said: “Thirty-year-old Alex was a much-loved son, brother, uncle, friend, and a dedicated teacher. He had his whole life ahead of him.
“On Saturday, 3 February 2024, Alex was walking home after meeting a friend when a drink-driver, who had consumed seven pints of Madri Lager, one pint of Guinness, one round of shots and one bottle of Heineken lager, chose to get behind the wheel of a car. The driver is now in prison.
“It takes one second to ruin your life and devastate a family.”
You can learn more about the #one_second campaign here.
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