A heartbroken family has paid tribute to a mum-of-four who died after a horror lorry crash, revealing her final selfless act helped save the lives of four strangers.
Sarah Gilkes, known to loved ones as Sarah Smile, suffered catastrophic head injuries after she was struck by a lorry in Dover.
The 41-year-old was airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London, but later died from her injuries.
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Now her sister, Emma McMahon, has launched a fundraising appeal to give Sarah the funeral she says she deserves, as reported by Need To Know.
In an emotional tribute, Emma described her younger sister as “a light to everyone she met” whose kindness continued even after her death through organ donation.
She wrote: “My little sister Sarah died from severe head and brain injury after being hit by a lorry on the A20 in Kent on July 9.
“She leaves behind four beautiful children, cousins, nieces, nephews and many more people who grew up with her and loved her.
“Sarah and I never had it easy. Our shared history was deeply affected by tragedy after tragedy.
“We lost our parents to suicide and after everything she went through, I believe Sarah deserves a beautiful funeral.
“Her children deserve to attend a dignified service.
“Sarah was a light to everyone she met and despite how difficult everything was for her, Sarah was an organ donor.
“When her time of death was confirmed, her organs were donated and she saved four people.
“Her light will continue to shine, but from within others.”
Sarah is survived by her children, Mya, 23, Toby, 21, Jamillah, nine, and Giovanni, seven.
Emma hopes to bring her sister back to her hometown of Banbury, Oxfordshire, where the family is planning a natural burial in the Cotswolds.
She explained that she and her partner are unable to cover even the cost of a basic funeral after he lost both his car and his job following a crash involving a deer earlier this year.
She wrote: “We want to bring my sister home.
“We are unable to afford the most basic of funerals.
“We would like as many people to come to the service to say their goodbye.”
At the time of writing, the fundraiser had raised more than £1,880 towards a £2,200 target.
The fatal collision happened at around 3.40am on July 9 on the A20 Limekiln Street between Union Street and York Street in Dover.
Kent Police said Sarah, a pedestrian, was airlifted to hospital but later died.
A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and has since been released while enquiries continue.
Officers from Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision.
Police are appealing for a man who was reported to have been walking with Sarah in Townwall Street earlier that morning to come forward.
He is described as wearing a long white-sleeved shirt and dark-coloured shorts.
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