They would have held hands under the water & quietly slipped away, says heartbroken Phil Spencer after parents’ death
HEARTBROKEN telly host Phil Spencer said his parents “would have held hands under the water and quietly slipped away” after their car careered into a river.
Phil, 53, added: “It feels horrendous right now, but after almost 60 years of marriage — to die together on the farm they so loved will, I know, be a comfort in the future.”
His father Richard, 89, known as David, and mother Anne, 82, were killed on their way to the local pub for lunch.
The Sun on Sunday revealed yesterday how their car had veered off an access road into a shallow tributary running through their estate.
Location, Location, Location presenter Phil, who grew up on the farm, said the ailing couple’s carer, a woman in her 60s, managed to clamber out a back window to raise the alarm “quite quickly”.
His farmer brother, Robert, cut their seat belts with a penknife and hauled them out of the river at Littlebourne near Canterbury, Kent.
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Police and the fire brigade raced to the scene and an air ambulance landed on the farm.
Richard and Anne were taken to hospital but never regained consciousness.
It remains unclear who was driving.
Yesterday, Phil posted a picture of David and Anne on social media and in a heartbreaking tribute wrote: “Very sadly both of my amazing parents died on Friday.
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“As a family we are all trying to hold on to the fact Mum and Dad went together and that neither will ever have to mourn the loss of the other one. Which is a blessing.
“Although they were both on extremely good form in the days before (hence the sudden idea to go out to lunch), Mum’s Parkinson’s and Dad’s Dementia had been worsening and the long term future was set to be a challenge.
“So much so that Mum said to me only a week ago that she had resigned to thinking ‘now it looks like we will probably go together’. And so they did.
“That was what God had planned for them — and it was a good plan.”
Phil added: “The car, going very slowly, toppled over a bridge on the farm drive, upside down into the river. There were no physical injuries and I very much doubt they would have even fought it — they would have held hands under the water and quietly slipped away.
“Although desperately sad and shocked beyond all belief — all family are clear that if there can ever be such a thing as having a ‘good end’ — this was it.
“Mum and Dad are together which is precisely where they would have wanted to be.”
Phil’s Channel 4 co-star Kirstie Allsopp commented: “Such a brave and loving statement and so typical of you and your lovely family. So many people have you in their thoughts and prayers, xxx”.
This Morning’s Craig Doyle wrote: “Oh Phil, this is so very sad. My thoughts are with you and your family. May they rest in peace.”
Doyle’s ITV colleague Jenni Falconer said: “This is truly heartbreaking.”
Phil, who lives in Hampshire with wife Fiona and their two children, spent Saturday night with his older brother Robert and their younger sisters Caryn and Helen.
He had spoken previously of his childhood on the farm, which his dad bought when he and Anne married.
In an interview, he said: “Living on a farm with places to run around, have adventures and learn about nature helped us grow up with a sense of responsibility.
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“Mum would take us out in the holidays to help with what was being harvested. We were happy to get involved and be useful. I have lots of happy memories.”
A close friend described the family as “lovely” and very popular.
