Last autumn, the nephew of football pundit Gary Lineker died after being crushed by a falling tree trunk.
Jonty Parkinson, 18, was working as a tree surgeon in Eaton Hastings, Oxfordshire, when the tragic accident occurred back in September 2024. A hearing at Oxford Coroner’s Court the following month heard that Jonty died of a crush injury to his abdomen.
Gary – who appears on Amol Rajan Interviews tonight (April 22) – was Jonty’s uncle by marriage. Jonty’s mum Ali Cockayne is the sister of Gary’s first wife Michelle.
Match of the Day host Gary married Michelle in 1986 and they share four sons – George, 32, Harry, 30, Tobias, 28, and Angus, 26.
The pair divorced in 2006, with Gary marrying second wife Danielle Bux in 2009. His second marriage ended in 2016.
Gary Lineker’s sons pay tribute to cousin
George and Tobias both took to social media at the time to pay touching tributes to their cousin.
George wrote: “One of the nicest boys you’ll meet, taken far too soon. Fly high cousin, you’ll be missed by all.”
One of the nicest boys you’ll meet, taken far too soon.
Meanwhile, Tobias penned: “Taken from us far too soon, rest in peace little cousin.”
£30,000 raised for grieving family
A GoFundMe page set up in Jonty’s memory raised over £30,000 for his grieving family.
Created by a family friend, the page explained: “To friends of Bob and Ali Parkinson, I have started this fundraiser to help them create a beautiful memorial or event to celebrate the life of their much-loved son Jonty, who tragically lost his life on the 6th September.
“I realise money can’t fill the great chasm of loss they are feeling but I hope it can be used to ease the burden of funeral expenses or go towards a fitting memorial for Jonty or in anyway the family see fit.”
Catch Gary on Amol Rajan Interviews tonight (April 22) at 7pm on BBC Two.
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