Brave mum reveals heartbreaking last words to her dying son as he passed away after Boxing Day crash

The brave mother of a child fatally injured in a Boxing Day road crash gently told him: "See you later alligator", in the moments before he died.

Jackson Turner, 7, passed away in his parents' arms at the Royal Victoria Hospital following the tragic accident on Saturday.

His sister Ally, four, was still being treated for injuries.

From her Co Antrim home, Lynsey choked back tears as she told Belfast Live : “I said to him, 'See you later alligator,' and I told him he'd taken my heart with him but that I'd get it back when I see him again.

“Then I kissed him and his daddy kissed him and we said good-bye for the last time.

'See you later alligator' was a phrase little Jackson had heard almost every day of his life, words of comfort, words that secured the reunion with his mum and dad every day after school.

But the Boxing Day tragedy has left the family bereft and praying for a miracle that Jackson's grandmother Margaret Saunders, makes a full recovery.

Jackson died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, just a few hours after the crash on the Old Carrick Road, Newtownabbey, at around 6.30pm on Saturday night.

Seven other people were injured including his granny Margaret, who remains in critical but stable condition in the same hospital.

The injuries to the remaining six are not life-threatening.

Four-year-old Ally who adored her big brother was in the car at the time of the crash and suffered bruising. She has been told Jackson has gone to be with the angels.

Lynsey, 37, described her son as a precious sparkle in her life, and a "best mate" to many others.

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She said: "Jackson was the star of our show. He was in the middle of everything, my wee sidekick. I didn’t go anywhere without him and he didn’t go anywhere without me.

“He was chatty and lovable and was very rarely quiet. He wouldn’t go past you without giving you a hug or asking you if you wanted a hug.

“He liked his drama, he loved his football – he wasn’t that good at it but he loved it all the same. He was involved in the PAKT, a group called Parents and Kids Together, and every week he'd make me something that I had to use.”

Just two days ago, Lynsey and her two children were excitedly unwrapping presents from Santa in what will remain a poignant family memory.

Lynsey said: “Christmas Day was brilliant, it was like a toy shop in here. There were boxes and boxes of Lego everywhere and Jackson got an Xbox as well.

Much missed: Jackson with his sister

“He was up first of course and he got us all up. He gave me my stocking and he gave Ally her stocking and we all went downstairs together."

But now Lynsey is trying to find a way to tell little Ally that her big brother will not be home for any more Christmases.

Lynsey said: “Ally was Jackson's shadow. He looked after her in primary school and he made sure she got to class. They were best friends and she just loved to follow him about everywhere.

“She’s quiet. She knows he’s not coming back but she doesn’t understand why.

“I’ve explained it as far as I can, she’s a smart kid so I can’t bluff her but I’m trying to be gentle.”

Lynsey said Jackson's father, Alan Saunders, whom the little boy spent every other day with, was devoted to each other and inseparable.

Lynsey explained: “He was daddy’s wee mucker too. Daddy couldn’t do anything wrong. Daddy this, daddy that. He saw his daddy every other day and he just loved him.”

On the evening of the accident, Jackson's grandmother Margaret was driving him and Ally to Lynsey’s home in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.

Tragic: Ally was Jackson's 'shadow'

Lynsey was at home at the time when she was told about the collision in a phonecall.

She said: "I just was in the house waiting for them to come home. But then I got the phone call to say something terrible had happened and that I needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

“It was awful. The worst thing. Me and Jackson's daddy were surrounded by our families and we all got to say good-bye to him.

“I told him, see you later alligator.And I told him he'd taken my heart but I’d get it back when I we see again."

Jackson was 'chatty and loveable'

Jackson’s body is due to be released to his family but funeral arrangements have not been completed yet.

Lynsey explained: "Prayers are being said for Margaret and she's still in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

“There’s been so much love coming to our door. We need an hour to discuss Jackson’s funeral but we’re so worried about Margaret right now. We just want her to pull through."