Mathew Pritchard, the Welsh skateboarder and former Dirty Sanchez star, has paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and co-star Mike Locke, known to fans as Pancho, who has died at the age of 47. Pritchard, who is currently on his way to Mount Everest base camp, said he was still "in shock" after waking up to the news on Friday morning, November 6.
A Shocking Loss for Pritchard
Speaking visibly upset, Pritchard said he had known Locke since they were teenagers, describing him as "my little friend of over 35 years." He recounted receiving a text from a friend named Nige, saying, "Give me a ring. It's urgent," and added that he had a strange feeling even before the call.
Pritchard said: "I don't know how to say this, if I'm honest, I'm still a little bit in shock. I woke up this morning to the awful news that Panch has unfortunately passed away."
Dedicating the Everest Journey
Pritchard, who was born in Neath, said he would dedicate his Everest base camp trip to Locke's memory. He recalled their shared adventures, including a skateboarding trip to Germany where he had to pretend to be Locke's father to get him into a skate park, and their years on Dirty Sanchez, saying they had "been in some classic messes together."
"I'll never forget him. Panch was the best. Love you Panch and this Everest base camp is in your memory. Rest in peace," he added.
A Tribute from San Portablo
The news of Locke's death was announced by Welsh clothing brand San Portablo in an Instagram tribute, which described him as "an absolute Welsh treasure" and an "all round Goodfella" who "lit up the world with his charm."
Away from television, Locke had found success in the past decade through his work with San Portablo, alongside close friend and brand founder Nigel Hunt. Hunt established the brand after losing his job at the nearby steelworks. In an earlier interview in 2026, Locke spoke passionately about the town and the brand, saying, "It's the key to celebrating us and the town and not being seen as this pass through town that's hiding in the shadow of the steelworks."
