Boy, 10, and dad killed in moped crash while carrying out 'final errand'
A father and son killed on holiday in Turkey when their moped was hit by a bus were carrying out a “final errand” before their flight home, it is reported.
Dylan Fitzpatrick, 10, died in the crash in Turkey alongside his dad Eoin while they holidayed with Dylan's other brother Cian.
It is understood Dylan and Eoin, 36, were riding a moped when it was struck by a bus at around 3.30pm on Monday, hours before the family was due to fly home to Portlaoise in Co Laois, Ireland, the following morning.
Claire Dowling, Dylan's mum, has travelled to the country to comfort Cian after the crash in the tourist resort of Alanya.
Overnight, it was said that the tragic pair had been completing a last task before they flew home.
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The trio were due to fly home the following morning (Getty Images/EyeEm)Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley, a neighbour of Eoin’s, told MailOnline: “You have grandparents on one side who have lost a son and a grandson. The crash was a last-minute thing.
“In the days and weeks ahead, the community in Portlaoise will rally around both families and hopefully be able to give them some support and comfort.
“It looks like they were carrying out a final errand before making their way to the airport when the crash happened.”
Ms Dowling dashed to Dublin Airport to get a flight on Tuesday after she was told of her son and ex-partner’s death, telling the she was still unclear on the exact details of the crash.
"I haven't even gotten to Turkey to see my boy or his father. Nobody has told me anything,” she said.
"I’m just glad that they’re together. My smallest boy. I just hope that when it happened – I don’t know how it happened – that he was smiling. He loves me and he loves his daddy too and I am so happy that they’re okay together somewhere.”
Ms Dowling described Dylan as a loving young boy with a sharp wit, who loved art and sports.
“He was the kindest, kindest person but he could cut you in two as well,” she said.
“He was such a character and anyone who met him would have said the same. He is 10 years of age and he still holds my hand and tells me he loves me, no matter where we are. He is so, so kind.”
She added: “He loves drawing and he loves swimming and he loves golf – he loves all the things that normal 10 year old kids don’t like. He wasn’t like the rest of them.
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“I would come out of my bedroom door in a dress and I might look not great and my teenager son wouldn’t say anything but my smaller boy would say ‘mammy you look beautiful.’ He was so kind. He loved life.”
The children would holiday each year with their parents separately after the couple amicably went their separate ways, Ms Dowling said.
"What breaks my heart is he was supposed to land today and I know he was dying to come home," she said.
“He loved being at home. He doesn’t have many friends. He loves being at home, he loves being at home with me. He loves the simple things in life. He won’t ever ask for much or care for much.”
Local media reports say the father and son were struck by the bus close to a pedestrian crossing on Monday afternoon, with the bus driver - a 28-year-old Turkish national - later arrested.
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