Tributes paid to Brockdish pair who died in crash

Tributes have been paid to a pair of childhood friends, described as “two peas in a pod”, who died after being hit by a car while cycling home.

Edward Trudgill and Daniel Macdonald, who were both 39 and from Brockdish, were involved in a collision with a car around three miles from their homes, on the A143 at Billingford, on August 27 last year.

An inquest into their deaths took place at Norfolk Coroner’s Court in Norwich on October 18.

Mr Trudgill’s widow, Jolene, said: “I could not go to the inquest. I had read the coroner’s report and that was bad enough, but to sit there and hear it over again would have been too distressing.

“Ed was admired so much by his family, who are still absolutely devastated.

“He was a very kind and generous man, who would do anything for anyone.”

The father-of-two, who was married to his wife for 12 years, was a motorsport wiring technician.

Mrs Trudgill said his death was still very raw for their two sons.

“He was there for his boys, doing everything for them to help them learn and grow,” she said.

“One of our boys still shouts ‘daddy’ when the door goes and they both call out for him, which is heartbreaking.

“He was part of a loving family and that is what he has left, with his kind heart.”

The inquest heard Mr Trudgill had likely fallen off his bike and was lying in the road. Mr Macdonald had gone back to help his friend when they were hit by a car shortly after 9.20pm.

“Ed and Dan were best friends since they were four years old,” Mrs Trudgill told the Diss Express. “They lived a couple of doors down from each other and were inseparable.

“They did everything together, like bike rides to Southwold and for charity. They were two peas in a pod and I would be proud to have either of them as a friend to me.”

Mr Macdonald, who had two sons and lived with his partner and three stepchildren, was described as a “loving father, step-dad, partner, son, brother, uncle and friend”.

In a statement, his family added: “Known to his family as Bert, he loved life. He was funny, happy and incredible in every way, just beautiful.

“Dan enriched our lives with love, kindness, fun and happiness. Our hearts are truly broken. Life will never be the same.

“We shall miss him and remember him with love every day. Dan was, and always will be, a much-loved member of our family.

“He was always willing to help friends and family whenever asked. His love of restoring his classic car, renovating his home and garden made him the person he was.

“We are so proud of him and everything that he achieved.”

Area coroner Samantha Goward concluded that both men died as a result of multiple injuries from a road traffic collision.

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