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Contrarian
Rescuers find crash couple holding hands
STAFF REPORTER, The West Australian
June 18, 2013, 9:08 am
Rescuers find crash couple holding hands
A couple married for 52 years were found clinging to each other in the fatal car wreck that claimed both their lives.
London's Daily Mail reports that English grandparents John and Betty Hodgkiss were found by rescuers with their hands entwined.
The former Army corporal, 82, died in the Shropshire crash and his 79-year-old wife was airlifted to hospital in Birmingham where she died the next day.
Their heartbroken family told the Daily Mail they felt comfort knowing the couple had a final loving moment together before they passed away.
Son David Hodgkiss said he believed his parents had used their last minutes together to say goodbye.
"I'm still devastated," he said. "But the most comforting thing for me is that they have gone together.
"We were told that they were found holding hands in the car so they must have had time to say goodbye to each other."
Mr and Mrs Hodgkiss, who have four grandchildren and were married for 52 years, were driving the 20 mile journey from their West Midlands home to The River and Rail Country Inn, near Bridgnorth, in the early afternoon of June 7 when they crashed.
The Mail reports that the couple's black Ford Mondeo collided with an Audi A4 TDI.
Dudley Hodgkiss said his father was a bus driver after leaving the army.
His parents met by chance on a coach more than 50 years ago, after Mr Hodgkiss drove a group including his future wife on a tour from the Midlands to the London Palladium.
They began chatting and dated for 10 months before marrying in 1961.
A decade later, the couple moved to Bilston, West Midlands, where they lived in the same house for 43 years.
Former colleagues described Mr Hodgkiss as "a gentle giant".
STAFF REPORTER, The West Australian
June 18, 2013, 9:08 am
Rescuers find crash couple holding hands
A couple married for 52 years were found clinging to each other in the fatal car wreck that claimed both their lives.
London's Daily Mail reports that English grandparents John and Betty Hodgkiss were found by rescuers with their hands entwined.
The former Army corporal, 82, died in the Shropshire crash and his 79-year-old wife was airlifted to hospital in Birmingham where she died the next day.
Their heartbroken family told the Daily Mail they felt comfort knowing the couple had a final loving moment together before they passed away.
Son David Hodgkiss said he believed his parents had used their last minutes together to say goodbye.
"I'm still devastated," he said. "But the most comforting thing for me is that they have gone together.
"We were told that they were found holding hands in the car so they must have had time to say goodbye to each other."
Mr and Mrs Hodgkiss, who have four grandchildren and were married for 52 years, were driving the 20 mile journey from their West Midlands home to The River and Rail Country Inn, near Bridgnorth, in the early afternoon of June 7 when they crashed.
The Mail reports that the couple's black Ford Mondeo collided with an Audi A4 TDI.
Dudley Hodgkiss said his father was a bus driver after leaving the army.
His parents met by chance on a coach more than 50 years ago, after Mr Hodgkiss drove a group including his future wife on a tour from the Midlands to the London Palladium.
They began chatting and dated for 10 months before marrying in 1961.
A decade later, the couple moved to Bilston, West Midlands, where they lived in the same house for 43 years.
Former colleagues described Mr Hodgkiss as "a gentle giant".
