Who was Sam Gardiner?
At the time of his death, Sam Gardiner was working as a landscape gardener in Scotland, but he was in Manchester visiting his family.
He participated in season 2 of the reality TV show Race Across the World, alongside his mother. The series highlighted Gardiner, then 19, and his mother as they traveled across South America without any phones.
Sam Gardiner conveyed his joy regarding the chance to enjoy quality moments with his mother. He said,
“Mum and I are very close — we often think or say the same things. She has traveled a lot in her life, so I think it would be fun to do it with her. She always seems to get things right, she can speak to people and fix things. She’s amazing.”
Gardiner leaves behind his parents, stepmother Justine, and brothers Charlie and William.
What happened to Sam Gardiner?
Sam Gardiner, a contestant from Race Across the World, has tragically died following a vehicular accident. He was 24 years old.
On Monday, May 26, around 9:50 p.m. local time, Gardiner was driving a white Volkswagen in Manchester, England, when the car went off the road and “rolled before landing on its side,” as reported by the Greater Manchester Police in a statement.
On Thursday, May 29, Gardiner was transported to the hospital, where he unfortunately succumbed to severe injuries. The police reported that he was the only passenger in the vehicle.
In a statement released by a family member, Sam’s parents, Jo and Andrew, expressed that they were “devastated.”
“Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special.
Sam was adored by his family. As a son, brother and nephew, he was loyal, funny and fiercely protective.”
In his memory, the family established a JustGiving page to support National FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), which has successfully raised more than £10,000. In a touching statement, his mother expressed:
“We have been deeply moved by the countless messages of love and support shared on social media and in responses to press coverage.”
“We would like to thank the BBC, Studio Lambert and everyone at Race Across The World production, fellow contestants and fans of the show for all their support at this terrible time.
