Sailor's military funeral

Tributes have been paid to a Wigan sailor who died after being hit by a car in Malta.
Simon AllenSimon Allen
Simon Allen

Simon Allen, 30, was serving as a Leading Engineering Technician with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Daring when he was killed in the accident during a stop-off on September 13.

The accident happened at around 1am in the morning in Msida, a harbour town west of the capital of Valletta, and Mr Allen, from Aspull, died in hospital a short time later.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The HMS Daring, which set sail from Portsmouth earlier this month, with a 190-strong crew, for a nine-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in the fight against Daesh, also known as Isis, had stopped off on the Mediterranean island on its way to the Middle East.

A spokesman for The Royal Navy said: “LET Allen’s next of kin have been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult time.

“Police in Malta are investigating the incident. It would be inappropriate for us to discuss any further at this time.”

Emergency services were called at about 1am and Mr Allen was taken to hospital where he later died.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A statement by Maltese police said: “A 30-year-old English man has unfortunately lost his life in Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli, in Msida.

“Preliminary police investigations found that the man was hit by a Peugeot 508 driven by a 42-year-old residing in Bormla. The vehicle was being driven in the direction from Msida to Santa Venera. The man was assisted on site by a medical team and later taken to Mater Dei Hospital where he was certified dead shortly after. Duty magistrates were informed about the case and appointed an inquiry. District police are investigating the case.”

HMS Daring is a Type 45 destroyer and is working alongside French and US aircraft carriers as they launch attacks against the so-called Islamic State, over Iraq and Syria.

Tributes have flooded in to Mr Allen on social media. Ann Wright wrote: “Rest in God’s garden Simon, you done your job well.

“God bless all your family and friends you left behind.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fiona Bell added: “Sleep peacefully in the arms of the Lord. Forever a hero never to be forgotten.”

Michelle Watson Brusby said: “Rip our fallen hero.”

Mr Allen will be laid to rest with full military honours at St David’s Church in Haigh next Friday.

An inquest into his death was opened on Wednesday.

Related topics: