Louis Lillywhite was just 14 when his mother, singer Kirsty MacColl, was killed in a speedboat accident off the coast of Mexico on December 18, 2000. Now 39, he has spoken about the trauma and flashbacks he still experiences 25 years on.
MacColl, 41, died instantly after being struck by a speedboat propeller while scuba diving with her sons Louis and Jamie, then 15, near Cozumel. Jamie suffered minor injuries, but their mother was killed. A coroner's report detailed severe head and chest injuries, with her left leg nearly severed.
Louis said: 'It was such a traumatic thing and a lot of what happened is still a blur. I can remember being in the water and thinking, “Where’s Jamie?” I still have flashbacks.' He underwent therapy in his 20s to address the trauma and has since overcome fears of swimming and boating, even snorkelling again.
His father, record producer Steve Lillywhite, recalled receiving the news while in New York. He flew to Mexico on a private plane arranged by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. 'When I went into the hotel room, the boys and James [Kirsty's boyfriend] were sitting on the bed watching cartoons – no tears, just totally in shock,' he said.
The family returned to their home in Ealing, west London, where MacColl had already put up a Christmas tree. Steve Lillywhite has released a new live mix of 'Fairytale of New York', the festive duet between MacColl and Shane MacGowan. In 2023, a green plaque was unveiled at the family home, where Louis still lives nearby.
