Royal Navy veteran, 63, is hailed a hero for saving his nine-year-old grandson’s life after he suffered fatal heart attack on busy motorway but managed to steer their car to safety
- Dave Nutter, from Fareham, safely pulled the car over to save his grandson’s life
- He suffered a heart attack on his way to visit his younger grandson in hospital
A Royal Navy veteran has been hailed a hero after he suffered a fatal heart attack on a busy motorway but managed to safely pull his car over to save his grandson’s life.
Dave Nutter, 63, was able to steer to safety despite experiencing intense pain to protect nine year old Tristin Vallender-Phillips, who was in the passenger seat.
After ensuring his grandson was out of danger, the retired sailor was rushed to hospital and tragically died.
His family have praised the Gulf War veteran for his ‘heroic’ actions which also protected the lives of other motorists.
Mr Nutter, from Fareham, Hampshire, had been driving to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford to give his five year old grandson Archie Jenvey-Vallender a present for being brave during surgery for a major skull injury.
Dave Nutter with his grandson Archie, 5. He was on his way to visit Archie with a present after the five-year-old had surgery for a major skull injury
Dave with his two grandsons Archie (middle) and Tristan, 9 (right)
The incident happened on the M27 near Fareham, with Mr Nutter dying nine days later. Quick-thinking Tristin had managed to flag down other drivers.
Mr Nutter, a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy who served for 22 years, will now get a hero’s send off at his funeral.
His son Mark Whitear, 42, from Portsmouth, Hants, said: ‘You could tell he did all he could, even in those few seconds as we believe it happened in a matter of seconds.
‘During that time, my dad not only protected Tristin’s life, but those of other motorists as well.’
Kathryn Jenvey-Vallender, Mr Nutter’s daughter and mother of Tristin and Archie, said her family have been ‘blown away’ by people’s generosity after more than £3,000 was donated towards his funeral.
Chief petty officer Dave Nutter (left) during his service with the Royal Navy
Dave alongside his daughter Kathryn Jenvey-Vallender, 28
The 28-year-old from Park Gate, near Southampton, Hants, said: ‘We are now able to give my dad the send-off he deserves.
‘We didn’t know if it was going to be possible because it was all so unexpected.
‘The costs of a funeral is astronomical, but we have had so many people reaching out and helping us.
‘You can really see how loved Dad was, and not just by us. He has touched so many people’s hearts.’
As part of his send-off, Mr Nutter will be flagged by a motorbike convoy on approach to the crematorium and will have flags draped over his coffin after his long career in the Navy..
He leaves behind wife Carole, who he married in 1986
As part of his send-off, Mr Nutter will be flagged by a motorbike convoy on approach to the crematorium and will have flags draped over his coffin after his long career in the Navy..
He leaves behind wife Carole, who he married in 1986
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for the costs of his funeral.
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