Sister's tribute to bus crash boy
The sister of a school boy who died after being struck by a bus has left a touching tribute to her younger brother.
Matthew Hayes, 12, from Moorside in the Wyatt area of Sunderland, was killed near a busy supermarket at Ryhope Street South in the city on Friday afternoon.
His sister Rehanna left a note on the roadside for her "baby brother".
"Words can't describe how much I'm missing you," she wrote.
"I shouldn't be writing this, it shouldn't be like this, 12-year-old, my baby brother, it doesn't seem real."
Her moving letter described their joyful family life: playing computer games, play-fighting, watching TV and running around the house with Nerf guns.
"I'm physically heartbroken," Rehanna wrote.
"I'm trying to stay strong for mam and dad but I just can't get it into my head that you're gone.
"I'm glad I gave you a hug and a kiss before you went to school on Friday, I could have been a better sister to you and for that I am so, so sorry. I honestly love you more than anything in the world."
The sister described how on Christmas Eve 2000 - the day Matthew was born - she was allowed to pick his name.
"I just need you to come and tell me everything's alright, but it's not. I can't believe this has happened," the letter read.
"I know you'll always be with us. I remember when we used to fight over who got to hold you; this shouldn't be like this.
"RIP baby and sleep tight, we'll see you soon. I love you so much words cannot describe it."
Matthew's family also paid tribute to him in a statement released by Northumbria Police.
"We would like to thank all the people who tried to save Matthew's life on Friday," they said.
"We know there were a lot of people at the scene, including Matthew's schoolfriends, members of the public and all the emergency services. We know everyone did their best to try and save Matthew."
