5:00pm Friday 22nd January 2010
By Jenny Makin
“HE was just a healthy and gorgeous young man.We are completely devastated.”
Those were the emotional words of a grieving Hampshire mum after finding her 20-year-old son dead on his bedroom floor.
Popular student Tom Hay was found by mum Vivien as she went to take him a cup of tea after returning to their Chilworth home on Tuesday afternoon.
Police say they are not treating his death as suspicious but the cause remains a mystery.
His devastated family, including his 17-year-old sister Jennifer, who was meant to be sitting her A-levels this week, will now have to wait for the results of a post-mortem.
The news has shocked Tom’s many friends, including dozens of fellow students at Southampton Solent University, where he was in his second year studying advertising.
Described as a high flyer, the former pupil at The Gregg School, Southampton, had ambitions to become the very best in the world of advertising once he had completed his degree.
Tom, who had a part-time job at Waitrose in Chandler’s Ford, had spent the night before his death out with close friends in Portsmouth, but he’d volunteered to drive so he wasn’t drinking.
He returned home in the early hours with his friend and lodger Graham Gilmour and ate a takeaway before going to bed.
His body was found at about 1.45pm that day and police were called to the family home in Chilworth Old Village.
Paying tribute to her son, a tearful Vivien told the Daily Echo: “He was only 20, just a healthy and gorgeous young man.
“He had been out with his friends the night before, and he’d been to the gym before he went out. He came home about 2am and ate a Macdonald’s before he went off to bed.
“It’s just unbelievable.
Everyone is devastated.”
Vivien added: “He was very fit and healthy and went to the gym often but he also loved his car, and his shopping – he was the designer label king. He was going to go right to the top in advertising, he always aimed high.”
Tom’s grandfather Alan Tester added: “He was such a lovely boy, it’s a terrible shock. I’d just like to say thank you to his many friends who have inundated us with calls and messages.”
Friend Graham Gilmour described Tom as the most amazing person he knew.
“He was always open and funny, he loved life and made the most of the short one he had. If he saw you in trouble, he found a way of helping you even if you never noticed.
“There were so many things we were going to do but will never get the chance. He was almost like a sensible younger brother. I miss him so much.”
A statement from Southampton Solent University said: “The university is shocked and saddened by the news, and our thoughts go out to Tom’s family and friends at this difficult time.
“We would urge any students affected by this tragic news to approach the university’s student support services who have trained and dedicated staff to give confidential advice and support.”
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