The mother of a three-year-old boy killed in a collision with a tractor on a farm in Bury has paid tribute to her “affectionate and caring” son.
Albie Speakman died in the tragedy in the Tottington area on Saturday afternoon.
His mother, Leah, has described him as her “little sunshine boy”.
“Albie was an incredibly loving, affectionate and caring boy who just wanted everyone to be happy,” she said.
“He was so sensitive and wanted everyone to be OK, especially the people that he loved.”
Police were called after Albie’s family flagged a passing ambulance to stop while trying to drive him to hospital.
He was pronounced dead by paramedics before he could be taken there, having suffered critical injuries while on farmland off Bentley Hall Road.
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Chief Inspector Ian Partington, of Greater Manchester Police, described it as a “heartbreaking incident”.
Officers are continuing to investigate alongside the Health and Safety Executive.
The tribute from Albie’s mother continued: “He loved to play – whether it be with his family or friends at nursery – he would always look for little round things wherever he went, stones, polystyrene balls, bouncy balls, beads – I’m not sure why but he just loved anything round, he would just hold onto them.
“His favourite memories are at Cleethorpes beach, with his bucket and spade and his ball. His happiest days were on that beach, we were so free and didn’t have any cares in the world.
“It was just me and Albie and nothing else mattered. Whenever I’d ask him what he wanted to do, he’d want to go on holiday to the beach again; that’s how I know he was truly happy there.”
‘I will make you proud’
“We all love Albie so much more than we can ever put into words – especially his Nan and his ‘Nanny-Nanny’, as he would always call her,” the tribute added.
“I will miss absolutely everything about Albie, his voice, his smile, the smell of his skin and the feel of his little hands on my face when he would say ‘I love you mummy girl’.
“I’ll especially miss going on adventures with Albie, anywhere and everywhere we could have fun; nothing will ever fill the whole that he has left in our hearts, we are broken beyond repair.
“I always call him my little sunshine boy because he has brought so much light into my life and he is my little ray of sunshine, and I don’t want his life to end here, I need to carry on living for him and take him with me wherever I go. We still have so many more memories to make, Albie!
“I love him so much and I know he will find his way back to me someday, somehow, because we need each other. Until then I will look for him in everything I do and I will celebrate his life.
“I’m not sure how to carry on this life without you but I will find a way to be strong for you and make you proud.”
