TRIBUTES have been pouring in for a talented surfer and musician, left paralysed after a car accident in 2014, who died yesterday.
Olly Newman was a popular figure among the Island’s surfing community, and the Peas and Glove charity – named after one of Mr Newman’s favourite expressions and a play on ‘peace and love’ – was set up in his honour to help pay for the specialist care he required.
In 2014, the former De La Salle student, then 19, was driving out of Le Port car park in St Ouen’s Bay when an uninsured motorist slammed into his car at over 70mph.
The driver was sentenced to 12 months’ youth detention after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
Mr Newman spent several years at the Queen Elizabeth Foundation – a specialist rehabilitation facility – and returned home to Jersey in 2019.
Announcing Mr Newman’s death, the Peas and Glove charity said: ‘It is with great sadness to let you know that our dear Olly finally decided that enough was enough and passed away earlier today.
‘Olly became quite ill on Monday, so family were called in to see him. On top of that, all his incredible and dedicated care team (17 people) came to see him and stayed all day. [Peas and Glove leaders] Matt [Daly], Brontey [Luxo-Piazza] and Luke [Hounslea] also came along with a number of friends (and dogs), all trying to understand and deal with a final goodbye.
‘At 6.30pm on Monday, the decision was taken by everyone that we should remove his oxygen mask, something he had been reliant on for a few weeks. The understanding was that he would go and meet his free spirit in a couple of hours. That’s what should have happened.
‘But in true Pretty Boy style, he went against medical convention, expectations and every textbook and finally passed on to his next journey 17 hours later on Tuesday at 11.40am.
‘He was peaceful, not in pain or distress, and surrounded by his whole immediate family. It was an absolute honour and privilege to be with him for his last few hours. Thank you all again for supporting him, and each other, on what has been a challenging but incredible journey over the last eight years.’
The charity staged an annual event – dubbed Permanent Ollyday – which each year saw the Watersplash awash with colour from the tie-dye shirts that were made for the festival.
Hundreds of Islanders have since shared tributes to Olly, remembering him as ‘inspirational’ and with a ‘heart so full of love for everyone he met’ and also offered messages of support for the Peas and Glove team, who made his return to Jersey possible.
