Harley Pearce, the 21-year-old son of England football legend Stuart Pearce, has tragically died in a tractor accident in the Cotswolds, leaving his family heartbroken. The young man, who worked in the agricultural sector, was driving along a country lane when he reportedly lost control of his vehicle. It is believed that a tyre blowout may have been the cause, leading the tractor to veer off the road.

Gloucestershire Police confirmed that Harley sadly passed away at the scene in Witcombe, located on the A417 Old Birdlip Hill. Emergency services were dispatched around 2:30 PM on Thursday following reports of the collision. Investigating officers are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or possesses relevant dashcam footage to come forward to assist with their inquiries. Harley, who resided near Marlborough in Wiltshire, ran his own successful business, Harley Pearce Agricultural Service, providing services to farms across the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire border.

His parents, Stuart and Liz Pearce, are currently receiving support from specially trained officers as they come to terms with their profound loss. The family released a touching tribute, stating: “Our family is truly shocked and utterly heartbroken at the loss of our cherished son and devoted brother, Harley. A soul who left an unforgettable imprint on all who knew him.” They further described him as “a golden boy with an infectious smile,” whose “shocking tragedy will leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.” The tribute also highlighted his “quiet, understated strength and deep kindness,” commending his “wonderful work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in the farming industry.”

Harley’s girlfriend, Holly, also shared a poignant letter left among flowers at the scene, which read: “To my Hunny. The man I’ll love forever. I’m so proud of you, and of what we’ve become. You know you have my heart, and I know I have yours. I’ll cherish us forever. Forever in your arms, forever in our heart. I love you! Love, Your Holly xxx.”

Stuart Pearce, who earned 78 international caps for England, shared Harley as the youngest of two children with his former wife, Liz, from whom he divorced in 2013. Their elder daughter, Chelsea, is an accomplished equestrian who has represented Great Britain in three European Championships. Stuart once recounted a heartwarming story of helping an eight-year-old Harley win his school’s Fantasy Football League by seeking advice from Sir Alex Ferguson on player selection.

In other news related to Stuart Pearce, he experienced a health scare earlier this year when he suffered chest pains on a flight from Las Vegas to Heathrow. The flight was diverted to St. John’s in Canada, where he spent five days recovering in hospital in March. Pearce currently works as a pundit for talkSPORT. During a recent broadcast, presenter Jim White conveyed the condolences of the entire talkSPORT team to Stuart Pearce’s family following the tragic news.