Family of boy who died at festival 'selfless' - Evans

Evans appeared on stage at Carfest in Hampshire

Radio DJ Chris Evans has praised the "selfless" family of a three-year-old boy who died at a festival he founded.

The boy died following a "medical episode" at Carfest, in Hampshire, shortly after 23:00 BST on 24 August.

Speaking on his Virgin Radio show on Friday, Evans said the child's family had known his death was coming and "treasured the dawning of every new day" with him.

He also urged people to download the location app What Three Words onto their mobile phones to help the emergency services.

Speaking on air following the death at the festival at Laverstoke Park Farm, near Overton, Evans said: "I think it's really important that I talk about another family.

"A very special family, a very beautiful family, a gorgeous family that are the subject of a story that appeared yesterday and is reported again today concerning a little boy who tragically lost his life following a medical incident at CarFest late on Saturday night."

'Selfless'

Evans said that following an initial plea for privacy, the boys father had contacted him on Wednesday, urging him to make a "sincere plea to anyone and everyone".

He said: "And that plea is simply this. Can we all please ensure we have the amazing What Three Words app downloaded on our phones?"

He added that the boy's father was in "no doubt whatsoever" that the app had been "instrumental" in enabling the emergency services to arrive at the scene "as soon as it was humanly possible".

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance attended the incident, alongside officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, South Central Ambulance service and on-site responders.

Following treatment from a doctor and specialist paramedic on the site, the child was taken to hospital - where he died a short while later.

The former Top Gear presenter said the boy's family had been "selfless" for thinking about others who could be saved by the app after their son's death.

He said: "I need you to know, after discovering more about this amazing family, it speaks so precisely to the character of who they are and how they are as people.

"From what I've learned, from what I've heard over the last week, it seems not a moment went by when they weren't giving it their all to ensure he was being loved as much as anyone has ever been loved before.

"It is therefore, with their permission and only with their explicit permission, which I am yet to gain, that next year's CarFest will be held in this little boy's name."

Evans set up CarFest in 2011 as a festival which showcased live music and live motoring track shows.