It's understood that John Burns was the pedestrian that was hit on the M6 near Carlisle in a fatal collision on Saturday evening, September 14. He was reportedly dropped off in the town after boarding the wrong bus.
His devastated family and fellow fans have paid tribute to the 22-year-old father-of-one, believed to be from Glasgow, saying 'nobody should go to a football match and not return home'.
John's mum Marion Bell commented: "My baby boy", while his girlfriend Rachael Mowles simply shared a photo of the young dad holding his baby son in a Celtic strip, captioned with broken heart emoji's.
The Celtic Fan Group has called for a minute's applause for the team's upcoming match against Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park tomorrow night in honour of John.
The group wrote on X the photo of John and his baby son on Monday evening: It said: "This is John. He recently lost his life aged just 22. No age at all. He was at the Celtic game on Saturday.
"No one should ever go to a game and not come home, NO ONE. We ask that you please join in the minutes applause on the 23rd minute on Wednesday night. Rest easy John."
Tributes have poured in from the Celtic and wider football community. It's understood that John was about to turn 23.
Kerri Anne Millar said: "Nobody should go to a football match and not return home.. Rest easy, John."
Christina Griffiths commented: "He was such a brilliant boy, with so much ahead of him. This is so unfair."
Kieran Millington said: "I loved John. He will always be my boy. I am heartbroken."
Bradley Wilkie commented: "Rest easy John, mate. He was such a good guy. Gone too soon."
Michael Trew added: "Rest in peace John. You were a top man and always a good laugh."
Mum Marion and girlfriend Rachael both posted desperate appeals on Sunday afternoon revealing John had not returned home following Saturday's game Scottish Premiership game at Celtic Park.
His family believed he was last seen getting off a bus near Carlise on the M6 but his phone was swithced off and he had no money. They said they were "worried sick" and it was "out of character" for him not to be in contact.
Police in Cumbria said the fatal incident on the M6 happened near junction 42 at around 8.05pm on September 14, and required the motorway to be closed in both directions for around 12 hours. Police, paramedics and highways officers rushed to the scene
In their most recent update on Monday, police requested anyone who was travelling along the M6, or had been travelling near to junction 42 on the A6, around the time of the incident who may have witnessed something or may have dashcam footage to contact them.
The Tragic Incident
A fundraiser has been set up in the last few hours for John's family. The GoFundMe page reads: "I’m hoping you all can give something to help take some unneeded pressure of finances of Johns family it’s the last thing they need when dealing with such a sudden loss.
"John was loved by all his family and friends , he was just about to turn 23 years old and sadly god took him too soon. He has a gorgeous wee boy and partner and really was adored for just being wee John. Please let’s take some pressure off his mum. L et’s give him the send off he deserves."
Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it, quoting incident number 238 of 14 September 2024. You can also phone on 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."
Paying Tribute to a Lost Fan
A football fan has been killed after boarding the wrong bus following a match. Pedestrian John Burns is understood to have been struck on the M6 on Saturday, September 14.
The Celtic fan had watched his team play Hearts in a Scottish Premiership game at Celtic Park in the hours before he was killed. Mum Marion Bell and girlfriend Rachael Mowles posted desperate appeals online after John did not return home.
His family say he was last seen getting off a bus near Carlise on the M6 but his phone was swithced off and he had no money. They said they were 'worried sick' and it was 'out of character' for him not to contact him.
John's loved ones have since paid tribute to him, Daily Record reports. Mum Marion Bell said: "My baby boy".
While girlfriend Rachael simply shared a photo of the dad-of-one holding his son in a Celtic strip, captioned with broken heart emojis. Police in Cumbria said the fatal incident happened near junction 42 at around 8.05pm.
The motorway had to be shut in both directions for about 12 hours. A fundraiser has since been launched in the wake of John's death.
It read: "I’m hoping you all can give something to help take some unneeded pressure of finances of Johns family it’s the last thing they need when dealing with such a sudden loss. John was loved by all his family and friends, he was just about to turn 23 years old and sadly god took him too soon.
"He has a gorgeous wee boy and partner and really was adored for just being wee John. Please let’s take some pressure off his mum. Let’s give him the send off he deserves."
The Celtic Fan Group has called for a minute's applause for the team's upcoming match against Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park in honour of the dad. The group paid tribute to John on X, formerly known as Twitter, and posted a picture of him.
It said: "This is John. He recently lost his life aged just 22. No age at all. He was at the Celtic game on Saturday.
"No one should ever go to a game and not come home, NO ONE. We ask that you please join in the minutes applause on the 23rd minute on Wednesday night. Rest easy John."
A Community Mourns
The man, named John Burns, was the victim struck in the deadly M6 incident near Carlisle on Saturday night, September 14. It's said he ended up in the town by mistake after hopping on the wrong coach.
In utter devastation, relatives and fellow supporters have been paying their respects to the 22-year-old dad, believed to hail from Glasgow. They've been left heartbroken, stating "Nobody should go to a football match and not return home".
His mother Marion Bell grieved with the words "My baby boy", while John's girlfriend Rachael Mowles expressed her sorrow by posting a snap of the young father with his little one kitted out in Celtic gear, paired with shattering heart emojis.
Celtic supporters are now calling for a heartfelt minute of applause during their next game against Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park on Wednesday night as a tribute to young John, reports the Daily Record.
The request was made in an emotional plea that was shared along with a touching picture of John cuddling his son: "This is John. He recently lost his life aged just 22. No age at all. He was at the Celtic game on Saturday."
"No one should ever go to a game and not come home, NO ONE. We ask that you please join in the minutes applause on the 23rd minute on Wednesday night. Rest easy John."
As tributes flood in from across the footballing world, it's understood that John was set to celebrate his 23rd birthday soon.
In solidarity, Kerri Anne Millar added: "Nobody should go to a football match and not return home.. Rest easy, John."
Christina Griffiths shared her heartache: "He was such a brilliant boy, with so much ahead of him. This is so unfair."
Kieran Millington paid tribute saying: "I loved John. He will always be my boy. I am heartbroken."
Bradley Wilkie mourned: "Rest easy John, mate. He was such a good guy. Gone too soon."
Michael Trew offered his respects: "Rest in peace John. You were a top man and always a good laugh."
Mum Marion and girlfriend Rachael sounded the alarm this Sunday, revealing that John hadn't made it back home after Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash at Celtic Park.
He was reportedly last seen hopping off a bus near Carlisle along the M6, phone switched off, wallet empty. Distraught and "worried sick", the family said it wasn't like him to lose touch and they feared the worst.
A Call for Witnesses
Cumbria's constabulary detailed a tragic event on the M6 close to junction 42 occurring approximately at 8:05pm on September 14 the ordeal led to a whopping 12-hour shutdown of the motorway in both directions, while police and emergency services flocked to the accident site.
And in their latest update come Monday, the police have put out a call for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage around the M6, especially near junction 42 on the A6, at the time of the mishap to come forward.
A Community Rallies
A fundraising campaign has been launched to support John's loved ones, with a GoFundMe page stating: "I'm hoping you all can give something to help take some unneeded pressure of finances of Johns family it's the last thing they need when dealing with such a sudden loss."
"John was loved by all his family and friends , he was just about to turn 23 years old and sadly god took him too soon. He has a gorgeous wee boy and partner and really was adored for just being wee John. Please let's take some pressure off his mum. L et’s give him the send off he deserves."
If you have any information about the incident, you can report it online at www.cumbria. police.uk/report-it, quoting incident number 238 of 14 September 2024, or call 101.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
To donate to John's fundraiser, click here.
