The family of a young child who died after she was struck by a car has opened up about the heartache they face each day.
As it approaches Kaitlin McCoubrey-Fullerton's two-year anniversary, the seven-year-old's parents are embarking on a major fundraising drive, to give back to the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance.
Kaitlin, who lived in Sliabh Dubh, died following a one-vehicle road traffic collision on Springhill Avenue, West Belfast on Saturday, April 3, 2021.
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Shortly after 6:10pm that evening, Kaitlin was struck by a car. Tragically, she passed away at the scene.
Speaking to Belfast Live in their first interview since Kaitlin's death, her parents described their daughter as "such a bubbly and outgoing child".
"She would have walked to the earth and back for anybody," her father Andrew said.
"Kaitlin would have always put others first, before herself. She was a pupil at John Paul II Primary School, which is just at the top of Whiterock and she loved it.
"The Air Ambulance itself didn't arrive on scene the day of the incident. Their team was at the Royal and when the incident was reported, their staff came up to Springhill in the car. Unfortunately, Kaitlin died at the scene on impact.
"Last year it was still so raw for us as a family, but Kaitlin's school and St Bernadette's Nursery in Ballymurphy, which she attended too, did their own fundraiser. They did a non-uniform day and any money raised through that was donated straight to the Air Ambulance.
"This year I decided we were going to do something big. I decided that we were going to give back, in Kaitlin's memory. Right now, we are sitting at over £2,300 - we can't believe it. That's basically from us holding raffles. Lots of local businesses have given us their support, Sharon's Interiors donated a mirror which raised £300.
"Direct Furniture also donated a mirror, as has Martin Furnitures. A friend of the family's, Joe McDonald, has connections within the boxing scene and he got Pádraig McCrory, Carl Frampton and loads of other boxers, to sign a glove. Kolormaster framed it for us, so it can go up for raffle.
"Pádraig McCrory has now donated his World Champion glove to this Air Ambulance fundraiser. That means a lot to him, but people have no idea how much it means to us. It means everything."
Kaitlin's parents, Jennifer and Andrew, said they have been blown away by the support of their community, in the days and months following Kaitlin's death.
They say they want to give huge thanks to each and every person who sent them well wishes, offered them help and is involved with the Air Ambulance fundraiser.
"We, as a family, cannot thank people enough," they said.
"The only thing we can do is say thank you, but we feel, in our hearts, that it's not enough for what they have done for us. The support is incredible, we can't even describe what it means to us.
"Kaitlin is spoken about every day, and we remember her as our bubbly wee child, who would have done anything for anybody. She was a real chatterbox and such a great child."
Sharing his support for the family on social media, Pádraig McCrory said: "I'm donating this signed glove from my world title fight In Germany.
"The McCoubery family are raising money for the Air Ambulance in memory of their beautiful little girl Kaitlin who sadly isn't with us anymore. The Air Ambulance do amazing work across the North and see some of the worst incidents imaginable."
A woman in her 50s arrested by officers investigating the fatal road traffic collision was released on police bail pending further enquiries.
Belfast Live understands that the PPS received an investigation file from police in July 2022 in relation to the incident.
You can donate to Kaitlin's Air Ambulance through PayPal andrewjennifer@outlook.com.
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