Her heartbroken boyfriend James Knight and record producer ex-husband Steve Lillywhite banded together to protect her two traumatized sons as best they could after the tragic passing of Fairytale of New York singer Kirsty MacColl, her devastated boyfriend James Knight, and her beloved ex-husband Steve Lillywhite.
In a desperate attempt to save her son, singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl made the ultimate sacrifice on December 18, 2000, passing away instantly. And in the years that followed, her ex-husband and partner continued to support her traumatized children.
Kirsty’s bravery will never be forgotten, despite her perhaps best-known for her beloved Fairytale of New York duet with Shane McGowan. When what should have been a happy holiday fell apart, Keen diver Kirsty and her two sons, Louis and Jamie, and her musician boyfriend James Knight, both of whom were on vacation in Cozumel, Mexico, were on a horror-filled trip.
At a designated diving area where watercraft were prohibited from entering on that terrible day, just seven days before Christmas, Kirsty and her children were attempting to go for a dive at the Chankanaab reef with veteran divemaster Iván Daz.
A powerboat was speeding straight into the restricted area and Jamie, 15, as she came out of a dive when Kirsty noticed it. Jamie was able to escape harm, and his ribs and head were only minorly injured thanks to heroic mother Kirsty. In a bizarre way, Kirsty instantly died from severe chest injuries. She was only 41 years old.
Her ex-husband Steve Lillywhite has previously spoken out about the moment he learned from James what had happened, while Kirsty’s son Louis, who is now 25 years old, has revealed what happened in his mother’s tragic loss.
READ MORE: Kirsty MacColl’s ex-husband claims tragic death was ‘a cover-up’ as ‘killer not caught’
Speaking with the Daily Express, record producer Steve, now 70, recalled: “It was such a massive shock. I just thought, ‘Oh s***’ and was desperate to get to the boys but there were no flights that evening from New York. I phoned Chris Blackwell, who owned Island Records, and he got me flown down on his private plane.
No tears, just total shock as the boys and James, who were watching cartoons on the bed when I entered the hotel room. James was only 26 and was closer to my age. They have never really spoken to me about what they saw, which is so horrifying to imagine.
They were greeted by a moving sight after leaving their family home in Ealing and flying to London. Steve claimed that Kirsty had erected the Christmas tree and that there were presents underneath. We tried to have a good Christmas by returning to the house in Ealing, but it was difficult.
After her passing, James raised Louis and Jamie at their father’s house and in the Ealing family home. They worked together, according to Louis. We had a good time. “Steve continues, “James is a good bloke, and he and Kirsty are perfect partners. She found a new partner, which I was pleased to see. We have spent Christmases together, and I still meet up with him while I’m in London.
Louis, a 39-year-old former restaurant owner from London, still recalls the tragedy in a “wobbery.” He said, “It was such a traumatic experience, and a lot of what happened is still a blur for me.” It was incredibly grim, to be honest.
“I can’t recall the specifics of that trip to Mexico, but I do recall thinking, “Where’s Jamie?” in the water. I occasionally recall conversations between him and I, but I still recall them. It was and continues to be so. Before they let us out, we could only have spent a short while in the water. I really don’t recall that much.
Steve, who has just released a new live version of Fairytale of New York, made an additional revelation about the alleged plot surrounding Kirsty’s death in a separate interview with The Sun. Guillermo Gonzalez Nova, a wealthy businessman who was on board at the time of the horrifying incident, was the owner of the power boat. Despite not having a license to operate the boat, a crew member by the name of Jose Cen Yam ended up taking the blame, and there are those who don’t think the entire story is true.
No one believes that the publication claimed it was a young child driving, according to Steve. Because he was one of Mexico’s richest men, I believe they simply didn’t want to have a significant lawsuit.
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READ MORE: Kirsty MacColl’s son’s fresh agony and fight for justice after £67 fine over death
Source: Mirror
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