Location, location, location TV star Phil Spencer’s parents are both killed in a car accident on the family farm where he grew up – with Channel 4 co-host Kirstie Allsopp paying tribute
Location, location, location TV star Phil Spencer’s parents were both killed in a tragic car accident on the family farm where he grew up.
His father Richard, 89, and mother Anne, 82, were pulled from the vehicle after it veered off their access road and entered a river at the farm, but unfortunately they were unable to be saved.
Channel 4 real estate show co-host Kirstie Allsopp paid tribute to the parents of her close friend Phil, 53, and said it was a ‘great source of comfort’ to him that they were together at the time of their death, The sun reports.
Richard and Anne are said to have left their farmhouse to drive to a local pub for lunch on Friday when their car drifted into a shallow river, which is a tributary that runs through the family farm in Littlebourne, near Canterbury, Kent.
Property TV star Phil Spencer’s parents were both killed in a tragic car accident on the family farm where he grew up (Phil Spencer pictured with his mother Anne)
TV presenter’s parents Richard and Anne Spencer, pictured in 2014
Phil’s (left) Location, Location, Location co-host Kirstie Allsopp (right) paid tribute to her close friend’s parents and said it was a ‘great comfort’ to him that they be together at the time of their death.
Firefighters and police were called to the scene and an air ambulance also attended the farm.
Richard and Anne were pulled from the car and taken to hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the scene and she died shortly afterwards.
Another woman, in her 60s, was also in the car but suffered only minor injuries.
Phil, 53, spent last night with his younger sisters Caryn and Helen and older brother David.
Kirstie Allsopp told The Sun she had spoken to Phil and the death was “tragic for the Spencer family”, who are “very loving and close”.
She said Richard and Anne, who have four children and eight grandchildren, were “lovely people” and “both of Christian faith”.
Kirstie added that Phil and his siblings supported each other during the tragedy.
Phil has spoken in the past about his love for where he grew up and being a farmer’s son.
He lives in Hampshire with his wife Fiona and their two children and owns a holiday home on the family farm, which his parents were in charge of before the eldest David took over.
A neighbor told The Sun the fatal accident happened near a small stone bridge that locals thought was dangerous.
Phil and his siblings support each other during the tragedy
Kent Police told the newspaper they were called to the incident at 12.36pm on Friday to a report of a single vehicle collision in Littlebourne.
A spokeswoman said: “Officers attended with other emergency services and a man and woman in their 80s were taken to a local hospital where they were later pronounced dead.
“A third person, a woman in her 60s, was in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries.
“The next of kin have been notified and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.”
Also present during the accident were three fire engines and a water rescue unit which took two hours to winch the car out of the river.
It is not known who was driving at the time of the accident.
