Tributes have been paid to a young father-to-be who died in a car crash aged just 26.

Jack Ryle-Thompsett was killed in a crash in Lydd on Sunday that claimed the lives of two other people and injured another.

Mr Ryle-Thompsett had been travelling as a passenger in a white BMW M135i when it was involved in a collision with a black Dacia Duster Ambiance.

The driver of the Dacia, a woman in her 50s from Ashford, and another passenger in the BMW, a man in his 40s from Hull, were also killed in the tragic incident.

The driver of the BMW, a man in his 30s, was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

Mr Ryle-Thompsett's good friend Jade Lawrence said that his family and friends were "devastated" by his untimely passing.

"I've known Jack for about ten years," she explained, "he was my brother's best friend and they were inseparable, he was just part of the family.

"It's just heartbreaking, he was about to start his own family."

The former Marsh Academy pupil lived in New Romney as a child and had been living in Lydd with his partner Georgie and her two children.

The pair were expecting a new addition to the family, with Georgie six months pregnant with their daughter.

"I think he always wanted to be a dad," Ms Lawrence explained, "I've never seen him as happy as he has been with Georgie.

"While most of us lost a friend, a brother and a son, his girlfriend lost her soul-mate and his soon-to-be-born baby girl lost her daddy.

"To say that we are all broken is an understatement but for her this story is all the more heartbreaking."

The 26-year-old, who also leaves behind his parents and two siblings, was described as "infectious", and extremely popular with his colleagues at the Dungeness Power Station.

"His colleagues doted on him," Ms Lawrence said, "he had so many friends.

"He was just infectious, so funny, always joking and his laugh was great."

Friends and family of Mr Ryle-Thompsett have set up a fundraiser in his name, to help provide for his family and baby in the wake of his death.

Ms Lawrence said: "We really wanted to provide something for his partner, her children and the little one on the way.

"We want to provide a legacy for him, he had no life insurance and would be devastated to know he had died without leaving his family anything."

The fundraiser has reached almost £7,000 in just over 24 hours. You can donate to it here.

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