THE heartbroken mother of A4 car crash victim Ryan Nelson, who died alongside three close friends, has told the Gazette the final words she spoke to her adored only son.

Kerry Whiston turned to him as he left their Calne home for a Saturday night out and said: “Love you son.”

He replied: “Laters.” But for Kerry and Ryan’s dad Micky Nelson there would be no later, as the next morning Kerry received the sort of phone call every parent dreads.

Her twin sister Kim rang to ask if Ryan, 20, was at home and she discovered his bed had not been slept in. Ryan’s cousin Harry, who had also been out in Chippenham the night before but left early, had heard from friends about the crash.

When Kerry arrived at his home Harry had to tell her the news and his dad Keith went out to find the car and spoke to police. He returned home to tell Kerry and Kim the devastating news. Kerry said: “Ryan and Harry were so close. There was less than a year between them. They were like brothers.”

In the weeks leading up to the crash Kerry and Micky had been worried about Ryan, as he had been diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. She said: “He was coping really well and doing all his own injecting of insulin. If I reminded him about eating he would just say ‘Muvver’ to me. He always called me that.

“He was such a happy person. Always smiling. He loved his music and he and Harry used to be out in the garage all the time with their drum and bass. He wanted to become a DJ.”

Ryan’s dad Micky, who lives in Hampshire, told of his son’s love of football and their shared passion for Aldershot Town Football Club.

He said: “I started taking him to watch Aldershot when he was only about two-and-a-half and then he started playing when he was about four and played for local sides until he was about 16.”

When he was 17 Ryan moved from his dad’s home to be with his mum in Calne and close to his aunt and cousin.

Thanks to Harry he had a ready made group of friends and immediately fitted in well. He got a job stacking shelves at Tesco in Calne.

He loved designer clothes and he and his mum travelled to Milan and New York for shopping trips.

His mum said: “He would save up to be able to buy the sort of clothes and trainers that he wanted. He used to work overtime to make as much money as possible.”

Both his parents described him as a loving, caring, bright and respectful person who found it easy to make friends.

His stepmother Karin and stepbrother and sister Stephen, 23, and Holly, 24, are also finding it hard to come to terms with Ryan’s death, as are his second stepbrother Daniel and stepsister Rebecca.

The family do not yet know when a funeral service can be held but plan to hold a drum and bass gathering outside Calne Town Hall on the day of the service, which will be held at Swindon Crematorium.

In a family tribute they all said: “Ryan, our ray of sunshine. He lightened up everyone’s life, a truly wonderful gentleman, so polite with lovely morals. Ryan worked in Tesco. He loved it there as he was with his friends. He was a massive football fan. He was a very talented DJ, it was something he wished to pursue in the future.

“Ryan was loved by everyone. He has the most beautiful soul. So handsome, he loved all his designer gear, had so much pride. Our lives are empty without him. Our precious, precious boy.”

The family thanked all the emergency services involved at the accident scene and others who tried to help. They also sent their thoughts to the people in the house and the families of the other three victims.

A radio host has contacted the family to say he will play some of Ryan’s favourite his tunes on Origin UK at 10pm tomorrow.