Race Across the World star Sam Gardiner has died after a car crash. He was 24.
“We sadly must confirm that the driver of a white VW Golf R estate involved in a single vehicle collision on Monday 26 May on the A34 in Gatley has since passed away from his injuries,” the Greater Manchester Police said in a Sunday, June 1, statement. “The driver, a 24-year-old man, has been named as Sam Gardiner. His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. They have asked for privacy at this terrible time.”
Gardiner’s parents said in a statement that they are “devastated” to have lost their son in a “terrible accident.”
“Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special,” the statement read. “Sam was adored by his family. As a son, brother and nephew, he was loyal, funny and fiercely protective.”
The statement noted that Gardiner’s stint on Race Across the World in 2019 “opened his eyes to the wonder of adventure and travel.” (Gardiner and his mother, Jo, competed on season 2 of the BBC series.)
“He was willing to go wherever the trail might lead and he touched everyone he met on the road. He found great happiness working as a landscape gardener on the west coast of Scotland,” the statement continued. “Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we’ll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade.”
Following the news, the official Race Across the World account mourned his death alongside a solo image of him and a picture of Gardiner giving a soft smile next to his mom.
“We are all deeply saddened to hear the tragic news about Sam, who died this week following a car accident. Everyone who worked with him and indeed everyone who watched Sam could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum, Jo,” the Sunday statement read via Instagram.
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The statement continued, “Sam embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result.”
The account noted that Sam and Jo “have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family” and shared that they wanted to send their “deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends.”
The news comes days after the Greater Manchester Police said in a statement on May 27 that officers reported to a traffic collision involving one car the day prior. Authorities did not publicly identify Gardiner at the time.
“Emergency services attended the scene and the driver, a 24-year-old man, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious and life-threatening condition,” the statement read. “Initial enquiries suggest that the car, a white VW Golf R estate, was travelling north on the A34 in Gatley and officers believe that the vehicle went off the carriageway and rolled before landing on its side.”
