‘Colin was full of life and energy’

HUNDREDS of mourners yesterday said their last farewell to a young sportsman who died in a car accident earlier this week.

Student Colin Hedderman, aged 23, was killed in a two-car collision at Lissarda, Co Cork, on Monday morning.

He was one of 12 people who lost their lives in the country’s blackest 48-hour period on the roads this year.

Three other people from Co Cork — brother and sister, Tom and Mary Frewen and friend Paul Geary — died on the same day in a separate road accident.

Yesterday afternoon the funeral of Mr Hedderman, of Ballincollig, was held at the town’s Church of St Mary and St John.

Paying tribute, parish priest Father George O’Mahony said: “Colin was full of life and energy. He enjoyed life so much.

“His big interests in life were swimming, anything to do with his family. These were very important to him.

“And now his life has been snatched away from him. It’s such a tragedy”.

Mr Hedderman was a former member of Sunday’s Well Swimming Club in Cork.

The tragic student held six club records, a Munster short-course record in the 400-metre medley and three junior boys’ records.

Swimming coach Mary Laffan said: “He was a really likeable chap.

“He was always up to some kind of prank and you just couldn’t fault him”.

Hundreds of mourners gathered inside and outside the church for the funeral.

Colin is survived by his parents Paschal and Sheila, brother Finbarr and sister Fiona.