A young man from Liverpool is preparing for an extraordinary feat of endurance to honour the memory of his best friend, who was tragically killed in a workplace accident nearly a year ago.
A Friendship Forged in Youth
James Watson, 20, from Norris Green, received a phone call in December 2018 that would change his life forever. He learned that his closest friend, Zacharias Atkinson, affectionately known to everyone as Puddy, had died following an incident at work.
The tragic event occurred on Wednesday, December 11, 2018, at the Langton Dock in Bootle. Merseyside Police were called to the scene off Regent Road at around 1.10pm, but despite their rapid response, the 19-year-old was pronounced dead where the accident happened.
James and Puddy's friendship began when they were just 11 years old, starting at West Derby School in Tuebrook. Their bond, part of a larger group of sixteen friends, only strengthened over the years.
"Some of our mates have actually known him since birth," James shared with the Liverpool Echo. "One of the lads was born in the bed next to him in hospital."
The Last Goodbye
James spent the evening with his friend just before the fatal accident, a memory that is now bittersweet. "We dropped him off at his house on the Tuesday night," James recalled. "Then the next day we got the worst phone call I have ever got."
The devastating news rippled through their entire circle of friends. "His mum and his family had to go to the docks and then they started ringing us all," James said, describing the moment he learned his friend was gone. "I'll never forget that phone call."
Puddy's grieving family have previously stated that his life was "taken in the most horrific circumstances."
Turning Grief into Action
To mark the first anniversary of his friend's passing and to bring some light into a profoundly difficult year, James has decided to undertake a monumental challenge.
Throughout December, he will run a total of 325 miles to raise money for Alder Hey Children's Hospital. In a festive twist, he plans to wear a Santa hat during his runs.
"It's been such a hard year," James explained. "January was weird with the funeral, it was just such a bad start to the year. It's something I still sit and think about every day, I'll never get over the shock of it."
He conceived the 'running advent calendar' as a way to help everyone in Puddy's life through the difficult anniversary period. "This December, it will be one year since he died, it's going to be so hard for everyone," James said. "They will be sat thinking about last year and I just wanted to do something to cheer everyone up and raise money at the same time."
His plan is ambitious: "I'm going to do a 25-day running advent calendar and run one mile on day one then build up to 25 miles on Christmas morning."
This heartfelt tribute not only aims to support a cherished local institution but also to keep the memory of a beloved friend alive, a young man who, as James fondly remembers, "lived for his mates, he loved Liverpool FC, loved the footy and lived for seeing his mates. But, he always had a soft spot for his mum and his family."
