“THEIR MEMORIES WILL LIVE ON THROUGH THEIR CHILDREN” — TWO DADS KILLED IN TRAGIC TRENCH COLLAPSE

JOSEPH HOBBS, 23, AND MARK GLOVER, 38, DIED IN A WORKPLACE INCIDENT IN CROSSNACREEVY — NOW TWO FAMILIES ARE FACING AN UNIMAGINABLE GOODBYE

Two families have been left devastated after two men were killed in a workplace incident in County Down, with friends and members of the local community now coming together to support their loved ones.

Joseph “Joe” Hobbs, 23, from the Comber area, and Mark Glover, 38, from Ballygowan, died after a trench collapsed during a work-related incident in Crossnacreevy on Friday, October 2.

Both men were treated by emergency responders at the scene, but sadly they could not be saved.

TWO LIVES LOST IN ONE DEVASTATING MOMENT

Emergency services were called to the Ballygowan Road area of Crossnacreevy shortly before 11am.

Police attended alongside Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

The incident occurred while earthworks were being carried out, with reports that a trench collapsed and trapped people at the site.

Despite the efforts of emergency crews, both men were pronounced dead.

The PSNI later confirmed their identities and said their deaths were not being treated as suspicious.

Investigations into the circumstances of the incident remain ongoing, with police working alongside the Health and Safety Executive and other agencies.

 JOE LEAVES BEHIND HIS YOUNG SON

For Joseph Hobbs’ family, the loss is particularly painful because the 23-year-old was a father to young Axel.

Joe’s father and wider family described him as someone who brought love, happiness and laughter to the people around him.

In a heartbreaking tribute shared online, his family said Joe was an amazing dad to his son.

They wrote that the loss had been devastating and that their hearts would remain broken.

For those who knew Joe, he was far more than a name connected to a workplace tragedy.

He was a son, a father, a brother and a friend.

 MARK REMEMBERED AS A “LARGER THAN LIFE” PERSON

Mark Glover, 38, was from Ballygowan and also leaves behind children.

His brother Barney shared an emotional tribute after the family received the devastating news.

He described Mark as having a “larger than life personality”, saying he was someone who could make people laugh wherever he went.

The family said they were shocked and numb by what had happened.

They also expressed their gratitude to the emergency responders who worked at the scene during the recovery operation.

For Mark’s family, the loss is one that will be felt for years to come.

 “THERE ARE NO WORDS”

Friends of both men have now rallied around their families.

A fundraising campaign was launched to help cover funeral costs and other expenses following the sudden tragedy.

The fundraiser had passed £18,000, with a target of £28,000, according to the latest report from The Irish Sun.

Craig Lemon, who organised the fundraiser, said there were no words capable of expressing the heartbreak caused by the deaths.

He described Joe and Mark as people who were deeply loved and whose absence would be felt every day.

 TWO FAMILIES NOW FACING FUNERAL COSTS

The money raised is intended to help both families with funeral expenses and associated costs.

The organisers said the purpose was not simply financial.

They wanted to give the families one less burden to carry while they concentrated on their children, their relatives and saying goodbye.

The fundraiser’s message highlighted that Mark and Joe were not simply workers involved in a tragic incident.

They were dads, sons, brothers, friends and family members.

Their sudden loss has affected an entire community.

 THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER

Tributes have also come from local political representatives and community organisations.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP described the deaths as devastating and said his thoughts were with the families and loved ones, as well as the emergency services who responded.

Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood described the incident as deeply tragic and said the community would be thinking of the men’s families.

SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole also offered his condolences and said there would be a need to understand the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

The Crossnacreevy Community Association and Moneyreagh Community Church also expressed their sympathy to the families and those affected.

EMERGENCY CREWS PRAISED AFTER THE TRAGEDY

The response involved police, ambulance crews and fire and rescue personnel.

Mark’s brother specifically thanked the emergency services who worked continuously at the scene.

The Crossnacreevy Community Association also praised the first responders who came together during what was described as an extremely difficult situation.

The incident has also affected people living nearby who witnessed what happened.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The PSNI has confirmed that the deaths are not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, that does not mean the investigation is finished.

Police are continuing to work with the Health and Safety Executive and other relevant organisations to establish the circumstances surrounding the workplace incident.

Authorities have not yet released further conclusions about why the trench collapsed.

Funeral arrangements for both men had not been announced at the time of the latest reports.

REMEMBERING JOE AND MARK

Two families are now preparing to say goodbye to two men whose lives ended far too soon.

Joe Hobbs leaves behind his young son Axel.

Mark Glover leaves behind his children Rio and Cole.

Their friends say their memories will live on through the children, families and communities they leave behind.

A workplace tragedy took two lives in a matter of moments.

But the tributes now emerging paint a picture of two men who were deeply loved — as fathers, sons, brothers and friends.

For everyone who knew them, the question is no longer only about what happened at the worksite.

It is about remembering who Joe and Mark were before that terrible day.

And making sure their families do not have to face the aftermath alone.

SOURCES

• The Irish Sun — Tributes and fundraiser for Joseph Hobbs and Mark Glover.
• The Irish News — Confirmation of the identities and emergency response.