The heartbroken partner of Craig Shackleton-Brady has shared the final words he said to her before a devastating crash claimed his life. Craig, 26, was one of four men who died after a black Cupra Formentor crashed into a lamppost on Liverpool Road in Huyton in the early hours of Friday, July 24.
The fatal crash
Andrew Roberts, 24, Jack Diggle, 23, and Benjamin Dooley, 23, were also pronounced dead at the scene. A 27-year-old man, a passenger in the car, was taken to hospital and remains there in a stable condition.
Tribute from partner Ellie Jones
Ellie Jones, 28, who met Craig when they were pupils at Broadgreen School when she was 15 and he was 13, described him as her "life" and "rock." Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "He was my life, my rock. I don't know life without him. I knew him before we even hit puberty."
"He was the best dad anyone could ask for. Our kids absolutely adored him, and he adored them. Recently, he took part in the dads' race at the children's sports day and he tripped and fell over. He was so embarrassed afterwards, but that was just Craig. He was goofy, wonderfully clumsy, and always made people laugh. He'd never turn anyone away if they needed anything. He'd give someone his last penny without thinking twice."
Ellie recalled Craig's infectious personality: "He was the heart and soul of every room he walked into. His laugh was so infectious; it echoed through the walls. He lit up every room, and when he laughed, you couldn't help but laugh with him."
Final conversation
She also recalled the last words they shared before the crash. "The last thing he said to me was, 'I love you, don't get a cob on, I'll be home soon.' He was eating a burger from Champions, his favourite place, and he said, 'I'll be back for that later.'"
Helping the children cope
In the days since Craig's death, Ellie has faced the heartbreaking task of helping their young children, Phoebe, five, and Archie, three, come to terms with losing their dad. After recently saying goodbye to the family's dog, Dixie, she told them their dad had gone to look after her in heaven. "We had a conversation this morning and we just said Craig has gone to look after Dixie in heaven," she said. "The kids said he's the brightest star in the sky. We'd always say to each other, 'I love you to the moon and stars.'"
A close-knit friendship
Ellie said she was "best friends" with the other men killed in the crash. The group spent much of their free time together at The Bulldog pub or playing darts. "Wherever one of us was, the others wouldn't be far behind. They wouldn't go anywhere without a dartboard. Craig would play darts in the garage with his brother-in-law. He always wanted to hit a 180. He'd pretend he'd done it all the time. He thought he was Luke Littler."
Craig, from Dovecot, loved football, darts, boxing and music, and had recently started going to the gym. Trying to put into words the loss, Ellie said: "It's been hell. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone. It's been so lonely. It's the longest I've gone without speaking to him in 14 years. We were joined at the hip. We came as a pair, like two peas in a pod."
Sister's tribute
Craig's sister, Kelsey Brady, described her younger brother as "one of the kindest and gentlest people you could ever meet" and said he had "the biggest heart of gold."
