A man known as the "Litherland Running Man" has died after he was knocked down by a stolen Audi.
David Francis earned the nickname as far back as 2013, by people who had got used to see him running, in just his shorts and running trainers, whatever the weather, around Sefton. Some called him "our very own Forrest Gump" and David would leave a smile on people's faces as he passed them.
David was 63 when he was killed last week, when a stolen Audi hit him before crashing into a house on Morgan Mews in Netherton. Police are still looking for the driver of the car, who fled on foot after the "horrific" incident which left the local community mourning a man who seemed an unchanging fixture in their lives.
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Since his death, tributes have poured in. In a touching tribute on Facebook, Chris Campbell said: "Whenever we’d be out in the car I’d always be looking out for him saying 'there he is kids - The Litherland Running Man.' The kids knew him as LRM too.
"He was a machine, he ran effortlessly, he just ran for the love of running. He was our very own modern day Forrest Gump. I don’t think he actually knew how locally famous he was. He was a legend and he was our legend. I hope his family take a little bit of comfort in how much everyone followed his movements, his life and had a real admiration for that man who ran without a top and half of a tubi grip on his left calf. RIP - Dave Francis."
The ECHO is inviting people to leave their tributes in our online book of condolences to David, who "will be missed" from the streets of Merseyside. Rest in Peace, David.
Leave your tributes to David in the comments below.
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