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Young dad killed in Outback crash
A Leyland teenager has been killed in Australia just two weeks after moving there to start a new life.
Young dad Harry Davies, 18, died after the Jeep in which he was a passenger swerved off a road in the Outback to avoid a kangaroo.
The teenager, from Farington, had emigrated with his girlfriend of two years Jodie Southern, 18, and their four-month-old son Alfie on November 5.
They had moved to Perth on the west coast to live with Jodie's father.
Harry was in a 4x4 with her brothers Rhys and Connor and a friend on Saturday when it came off a dirt track, crushing the teenager. He died in Rhys' arms 20 minutes later.
Paying tribute to his 'larger than life' son, dad Stephen, 46, said: "We are all heartbroken. We had to get over the heartache of him going to Australia and this is indescribable."
The Manchester United fan, known as Haz by friends, was a former pupil at Clayton-le-Woods CE Primary, and had worked at Glover's Bakery, Bamber Bridge, before he left.
When he left school he dreamed of joining the Army but his asthma meant he was ruled out.
Stephen, a regional officer with trade union Unite, added: "Harry was full of life and I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. We want to remember the happy times. He adored his son and Jodie and it is so sad he will never see Alfie grow up. He was a smashing lad."
Mum Tracey, 43, and brother Ben, 16, have travelled to Perth to bring his body back to the UK.
Dozens of his friends have left messages on the social networking site Facebook in his memory.
A memorial evening has also been arranged at the Anchor Inn, Hutton, on December 6.
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said consular assistance was being provided to his family in Australia.
His funeral will be held at St Paul's Church, Farington, but a date has not yet been set.
The ceremony is being arranged by BJ Watson Funeral Directors. Contact 01772 626800 for further details.
Mourners will be asked to wear football shirts in tribute.
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Weather for Chorley
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to -0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
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