South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | November | 25
From the archive, first published Friday 25th Nov 2005.
"WE are so thankful to have had him in our lives at all and we will remember him forever," are the words of the father of Winterbourne student Kostas Lazarides who was the victim of a hit and run collision last week.
The 17-year-old's parents, Athanasis and Spyra, and step-mother Natalie have been left devastated by the sudden death of the much-loved student who was killed whilst crossing a pelican crossing in Stoke Gifford last Sunday.
Father Athanasis, with whom Kostas had moved to live at their Bradley Stoke home two and a half years ago, spoke of his anger and sadness at losing his child.
Mr Lazarides, a bar owner, said he could not describe how the whole family, including Kostas' 21-year-old brother Pavlos, two-year-old stepsister Bellayia and eight-month-old stepbrother Aleonidas, was feeling.
"I just have this incredible amount of anger inside me, as none of it makes sense," said Mr Lazarides.
"Kostas was just growing into his life. He was really starting to become a young man and had a real maturity about him," he added.
Mr Lazarides described how his son, who had celebrated his birthday just days before his death, had ambitions to be a forensic scientist.
"He was at sixth form having a great time. At first he wanted to be a chef, like his granddad, but then he got into the TV series CSI and wanted to be a forensic scientist so he took chemistry, biology and maths."
Kostas was a student at the Ridings High School, Winterbourne where he was studying among other things, mathematics.
Mr Lazarides praised his son for taking maths, saying that it was testament to the young boy's maturity that he took the A Level, a subject he disliked, to further his career.
"He realised he was quite good at it and knew he needed it if he wanted to go into forensic science.
"All that work is for nothing now. He'll never get the chance to fulfill all that potential."
Kostas, who was born in South Wales and moved to Bristol when he was two years old. After his parents split up he moved to Cyprus with his older brother where they lived until moving in with his father and stepmother.
He has been described as well liked and highly thought of by students and pupils at the Ridings.
Speaking after the tragedy last Monday, headteacher Dr Robert Gibson described Kostas as " a lively, bubbly student with a wonderful future ahead of him."
Two coaches full of Kostas' classmates arrived at the teenager's funeral on Wednesday. The service was held at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Peter and St Paul in Easton, followed by a burial at Almondsbury cemetery.
Two men, both in their 20s, have been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run on Winterbourne Road and are currently on bail pending further inquiries.
A car believed to have been involved in the collision has been taken away for forensic examination.
Meanwhile, Kostas' family is trying to come to terms with their loss and said they have been comforted by the number of messages from fellow pupils and friends.
Mr Lazarides added: "There was so much we hadn't said and done, but there is nothing I can do about that now. We are so thankful to have had Kostas in our lives at all and will remember him in our hearts forever."
* Anyone with information should call Avon and Somerset Constabulary's collision investigation unit on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008