A DAD has left a heartbreaking tribute to his “wonderful” three kids and wife who were killed in a car crash that he and his 18-month-old daughter survived.
Josh Powell, 30, warned his family face “many battles to come” after they were torn apart when their Subaru people carrier collided with a HGV last week – after they had recently survived a house fire.
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The dad survived the road crash on the A40 near Oxford last week which killed his wife Zoe Powell and children Phoebe, Simeon and Amelia
Josh spoke of his “clever” daughter Phoebe who was “the model of her mother” and loved to go on “adventure and explore the world together”.
He said his Simeon had a “mischievous sense of humour” and was due to play his first football match this week.
The devastated father paid tribute to his “four wonderful children” and “dreamer” wife.
He spoke about how “kind and spirited” Amelia was who had an “abundance of self-confidence”.
Josh praised his wife saying “we made a great partnership to raise a family”.
In a statement released today through police, he added: “Before the adventure of starting a family, nobody truly knows what to expect.
“All of life’s preconceptions and what we see in the world around us meant that life as a family man was so much better than I expected it to be.
“I had been blessed with four wonderful children, whose thirst for life and hunger of adventure kept me busy but in the best possible way.
“As I look to an uncertain future, I reflect on the fun that we had as a family, with feelings of sadness that it was cut so short.”
Josh Powell’s statement
Before the adventure of starting a family nobody truly knows what to expect. All of life’s preconceptions and what we see in the world around us meant that life as a family man was so much better than I expected it to be.
“I had been blessed with four wonderful children, whose thirst for life and hunger of adventure kept me busy but in the best possible way.
“As I look to an uncertain future, I reflect on the fun that we had as a family, with feelings of sadness that it was cut so short.
“Phoebe was my first daughter, and was the model of her mother but with a thirst to always know more. Regularly we would adventure and explore the world together. She was clever and able to make great jumps of imagination – her great creations in Lego are testament to this.
“Simeon was just like his father, with a mischievous sense of humour and desire to know more of the world. A keen sportsman, he had been due to play in first football match this week.
“He shared the kind heart of his sisters and wouldn’t be happier than when he knew that everyone was ok.
“Amelia was kind and spirited. Her tenderness and thoughtfulness much more advanced than her years.
“Her ability to dance and express herself was a true blessing, with an abundance of self-confidence. Tied down by no element of practicality she had the most vivid dreams imagination.
“Myself and Zoe were as different as we were alike. Despite the frequent tensions this would bring, it was of immense benefit having such differing world views.
“Our children benefited from this in having adventures but also the quiet to talk. Zoe was a dreamer; with a head spinning of new things to do or tales to tell. More than anything, we made a great partnership to raise a family.
“I want to thank everyone who has rushed to put their arms around to us to support me and Penny.
“As a family that have always preferred understated calm and brevity, it has been a revelation the benefit of the deep wider relationships now I’ve lost my immediate nuclear family.
“There are many battles to come, and I thank everyone who has stood by me and Penny thus far.
“We are well supported and know to ask if anything is needed.
“Now we have the time to readjust and grieve, this is the challenge of the abundance of loss we feel as a family.
“Thank you to those who have respected our space and supported us thus far, and given us the time and space to do this.”
Mummy blogger Zoe, 29, and her three children were all pronounced dead at the scene after their Subaru people carrier collided with a HGV on last Monday.
Josh and the couple’s 18-month-old daughter are expected to make full recoveries after they were pulled from the wreck.
The religious family were popular in their close-knit Chinnor village community and locals have been left “devastated” by the tragedy.
The driver of the HGV, a 56-year-old man, suffered minor injuries.
Josh last week was told the life-shattering news that his wife and three children were all killed, friends at the family’s church in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, confirmed.
A JustGiving page to help raise funds for the family has been started by friends in the village.
Neighbours revealed the family had been forced to leave their home after a devastating electrical fire a few months ago
Pals said Josh and Zoe were living in emergency accommodation with their children after suffering “tragedy after tragedy”.
Zoe’s dad, William Milroy said the family were travelling to their temporary home when tragedy struck.
He told The Sun Online: “They were going home.
“I don’t know where they had been but they had recently moved into a new rented house after theirs had burned down.”
Mr Milroy added: “They had moved from place to place but had rented a house long term and were just getting settled.
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Holding back tears, Mr Milroy added: “Police told us at 5am what had happened. They’ve gone.”
He spoke after returning from the hospital with his wife to visit their son-in-law and baby granddaughter.
He said they had “no idea” how the horror crash had happened, saying: “Police will not even tell us exactly where it happened. They are still investigating.”
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