An inquest has begun into the death of a young Celtic fan who died on an English motorway after boarding the wrong bus following a matchday.
John Burns was involved in a fatal collision as a pedestrian on the M6 near Junction 42, on the outskirts of Carlisle, on Saturday, September 14, around 8pm.
The 22-year-old dad-of-one was reportedly dropped off in the town after boarding the wrong bus following the Hoops’ Scottish Premiership clash with Hearts in Glasgow.
The inquest, which began on Tuesday, October 1, at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court, heard how John was “struck by a number of vehicles” on the M6.
Assistant coroner for Cumbria, Dr Nicholas Shaw, said John, of Renfrewshire, who was a student of electrical engineering, had been formally identified by his fingerprints.
“The brief circumstances are that he was struck by probably a number of vehicles whilst a pedestrian on the motorway. It’s not yet known how this came to be but there will obviously be a full accident investigation,” said the coroner.
“When that’s complete we will resume the inquest and full details will enter the public domain.”
John, an avid Celtic FC fan, was due to celebrate his 23rd birthday days after his death. He left behind a baby son.
His devastated mum Marion Bell commented: “My baby boy”, while his girlfriend Rachael Mowles simply shared a photo of the young dad holding his baby son in a Celtic strip, captioned with broken heart emojis.
Marion and Rachael had first made desperate appeals online for help after revealing John had gone missing and had not returned home after the game at Celtic Park.
His family believed he was last seen getting off a bus near Carlisle on the M6 but his phone was switched off and he had no money. They said they were “worried sick” and it was “out of character” for him not to be in contact.
The following day, they learned he had been the pedestrian killed on the M6.
Tributes poured in from the football community in the wake of the tragedy. Fellow supporters left shocked by the news shared tributes saying ‘nobody should go to a football match and not return home’.
Celtic FC fans also called for a minute’s applause for the team’s match against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League in honour of John.
A fan group posted: “This is John. He recently lost his life aged just 22. No age at all. He was at the Celtic game on Saturday.
“No one should ever go to a game and not come home, NO ONE. We ask that you please join in the minutes’ applause on the 23rd minute on Wednesday night. Rest easy John.”
In the aftermath of the fatal collision, th e Cumbria Police appealed for any witnesses, and those with dash cam footage, to come forward.
A fundraiser also set up for John’s family raised almost £7,000.
Dr Shaw adjourned the hearing on Tuesday morning. A full inquest is due to be held on a date to be fixed.
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