Lakyle Samuel, son of former Cardiff City player Jlloyd Samuel, has spoken candidly about losing his father in a car crash in May 2018 and the extraordinary claims that he is still alive. Lakyle was just 12 when his father died after his Range Rover crashed into a van shortly after dropping his children off at school. Jlloyd, who had played for Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and Cardiff City, was 37.
Grief has intensified with age
Eight years on, Lakyle says the loss has become harder to process as he has grown older. “I wish he was still around,” he told the Daily Mail. “As I've got older, it has hit me more. It is tough because you want that support - you don’t really know what to think or how to deal with things on and off the pitch.”
Jlloyd's death has remained the subject of controversy because his body was so badly burned in the crash that he had to be identified through dental records. His former second wife, Iranian fashion designer Helia Sahimi, has claimed that he is still alive, while his sister Leslie-Ann has accused Lakyle's mother Emma of faking his death to carry out insurance fraud.
Coroner's ruling and family response
However, a coroner ruled that the body recovered from the scene was that of the former footballer. An autopsy also found that Jlloyd had been more than twice over the drink-driving limit.
Lakyle, now 20 and a Manchester City player on loan at Exeter City, says he does not allow the theories surrounding his father's death to consume him. “I just try and block it out,” he said. “It doesn't have much to do with my life. I've had my experiences with him and if other people want to say other stuff, I'm not too bothered.”
Memories and football career
He added: “I've had what I've had with him and it's not going to change my point of view on him. He gave us a really good upbringing. He’s dad, innit? I've got memories of playing football in the garden with dad, him doing drills with me in the hallway. He’s influenced me a lot. My mum tells me what he did in the past. I just want to be the best person I can be.”
Jlloyd spent a short spell with Cardiff during the 2010/11 season, joining on loan from Aston Villa, and made seven appearances. He had already made more than 200 appearances for Villa before also playing for Bolton. He later moved into Iranian football, joining Esteghlal, and converted to Islam and secretly married Sahimi while already married to Lakyle's mother Emma. The details of his private life only became known to his family following his death.
Lakyle was at school when he was called out of class shortly after the crash. He initially believed a party had been organised when he arrived home and saw all the cars outside. His mother then broke the news to him. Despite the tragedy, he has continued his football career, coming through Manchester City's academy and training with England's senior squad. He is currently on loan at Exeter City, having previously spent time at Bromley.
