THE FINAL TRIBUTE — DEVASTATED PARENTS REMEMBER THEIR “AMAZING” SCOTS SON AFTER TRAGIC WORKPLACE TRENCH COLLAPSE

Joseph “Joe” Hobbs, 23, was remembered as a loving son and devoted young father after he and his colleague died in a workplace trench collapse in County Down.

A family has been left facing unimaginable heartbreak after their beloved son died in a tragic workplace incident.

Joseph “Joe” Hobbs was just 23 when a trench collapsed at a construction site in Crossnacreevy, County Down, on Friday, October 2.

His colleague and friend, 38-year-old Mark Glover, also lost his life in the incident.

Emergency services rushed to the Ballygowan Road area at around 10:45am, but despite efforts to help the men, both were pronounced dead at the scene.

For Joe’s parents, the devastating news marked the loss of a son they described as bringing love, happiness and laughter to everyone around him.

 “OUR HEARTS WILL FOREVER BE BROKEN”

Joe’s parents, Joseph and Lisa McMullen Hobbs, released an emotional tribute following their son’s death.

They described the tragedy as devastating for the entire family and remembered Joe as someone who brought joy wherever he went.

Most painfully of all, they spoke about the role that meant so much to him — being a father.

Joe was the dad of a young son named Axel, who is now growing up without his father.

His parents described Joe as an “amazing dad” and said their hearts would be forever broken by his loss.

 MORE THAN A HEADLINE

Behind the tragic workplace incident was a 23-year-old man who was deeply loved by his family.

Joe was originally from Glasgow before moving to the Comber area, where he was living and working at the time of his death.

To his parents, he was their boy.

To Axel, he was Dad.

And to friends and colleagues, he was someone whose presence brought laughter and happiness.

His family’s tribute offered a glimpse of the person behind the heartbreaking headlines — a young man whose life was centred around the people he loved.

🕯️ TWO FAMILIES LEFT GRIEVING

Joe was not the only family member whose life changed forever that morning.

Mark Glover also died in the collapse, leaving behind loved ones of his own.

Tributes have since been paid to both men, with their deaths sending shockwaves through the local community.

A fundraiser has also been established to help support both families with funeral expenses and other costs. The appeal had already raised more than £20,000 toward its target when reports were published.

The tragedy has also prompted an ongoing investigation into what happened at the work site.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the deaths were not being treated as suspicious, while enquiries are continuing alongside the Health and Safety Executive.

 A SON, A FATHER, A FRIEND

For those who knew Joe, the story cannot simply end with the circumstances of his death.

He was a son whose parents are now facing a future without him.

He was a young father whose little boy has lost the person who should have watched him grow up.

He was a friend and colleague whose absence will be felt by those who shared ordinary working days with him.

And he was, in the words of his devastated parents, an amazing dad.

The trench collapse may have taken Joe from the people who loved him, but the memories of the young man they knew — the laughter, the happiness and the love he brought into their lives — remain.

His family now faces the hardest goodbye of all: saying farewell to a son they never expected to lose so soon.