Crowdfunder raises £30,000 for family after ‘Good Samaritan’ death

Chris Marriott was ‘much loved and irreplaceable’, the organisers of a fundraiser for his family said.
Bryony Marriott and her husband Chris Marriott, 46, who died when he was hit by a vehicle in Sheffield as he helped an unconscious woman (Family handout/PA)
PA Media
Lucas Cumiskey31 December 2023

A crowdfunder has raised more than £30,000 for the family of a “Good Samaritan” who died after being hit by a car while trying to help a stranger.

Father-of-two Chris Marriott, 46, died on Wednesday after he went to the aid of a woman he saw unconscious in the street during a disturbance in the Burngreave area of Sheffield.

As he tended to the woman in College Close, a car ploughed into the crowd, leaving a number of people injured.

A GoFundMe appeal launched on Friday to financially support his family has smashed its £5,000 target, raising £30,025 as of 3pm on Sunday.

A message attributed to Mr Marriott’s family, posted on the fundraiser page, says: “We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support being shown for Chris, and appreciate every comment and donation.

“Chris would be amazed (and no doubt embarrassed) at the attention his actions have generated, but would also loved to have seen how friends, neighbours and complete strangers have come together to show support for his family and help financially. Thank you so much.”

On Friday, Mr Marriott’s family said in a statement: “Chris was a wonderful husband, dad, brother, uncle – and friend to many.

“The circumstances of his death, although tragic and unfathomable to us, his family, show the sort of man he was – to go to help rather than to turn away,” the statement added.

Hassan Jhangur, of Whiteways Road, Sheffield, appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning charged with murder and five counts of attempted murder.

He was remanded in custody during the brief appearance and will appear again at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday.

The people named in the attempted murder charges are Hasan Khan, Alison Norris, Ambreen Jhangur, Nafeesa Jhangur and Riasat Khan.

Mr Marriott, who has been described as a “Good Samaritan” by police, worked for a debt counselling charity and was a leading member of his church, helping set up and run a food bank in Sheffield.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and their two boys at this so so difficult time and we would like to remove any financial concerns they may have

Fundraiser organisers

“What can we say but how heartbroken we are at the loss of our Chris,” the fundraiser organised by Andrew Dancy and Heather Keates states.

“A man who loved people.

“His kindness, work ethic, generosity and willingness to walk people through the intricacies of setting up IT were part and parcel of what made him who he was and therefore much loved and irreplaceable.

“His (sic) died whilst administering first aid to a stranger putting their needs before his own safety and as the news outlets are saying ‘a true good samaritan’.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and their two boys at this so so difficult time and we would like to remove any financial concerns they may have.”

Police said he was out for a post-Christmas walk with his wife and two young sons when the tragedy unfolded, just after 2pm on Wednesday.

Several other people suffered injuries during the incident, including Ms Norris – an off-duty midwife who had also stopped to help.

It is believed the injured woman being helped by Mr Marriott had been involved in an altercation which had been reported to police before the car arrived in the close.

At least one man was reported to have been stabbed in the disturbance.

Ms Norris suffered minor injuries, another man received serious injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening and four further people, three women and a man, suffered minor injuries.

Mr Marriott worked as IT manager for the charity Community Money Advice (CMA), he was also heavily involved with City Church, in Sheffield, as well as the Jubilee Food Bank, Voluntary Action Sheffield, and was a trustee of MASKK (Manor and Castle After School and Kids Klubs), in the city.

Earlier this week, Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Knowles said: “This is an utterly heartbreaking case in which a Good Samaritan, who had stepped in to help a stranger in their time of need, has lost his life.”

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