Parents of a man fatally mowed down by a car as he walked on the pavement have paid tribute to their "generous and caring" son.

Philip Westnott, 48, was walking around the busy junction of Merantun Way and Christchurch Road in Colliers Wood on Saturday afternoon when he was hit by a white Mazda.

Wimbledon Times:

Philip Westnott was fatally hit at this junction on Saturday. Picture: Google

Mum-of-two Jessica Edwards, who was two cars behind the Mazda, said: "The lights went green and he went up onto the curb out of nowhere.

"Because of the impact it made I got out, put my hazards on and left my children in the car to see if I could help.

"He was under the car but I thought maybe if some of us got there soon enough we could help lift the car."

Realising it was too late, she grabbed a baby blanket from her car to cover the body, while three other women tried to stop people taking photos.

Wimbledon Times:

Police blocked off Christchurch Road after the crash 

Police and ambulance were called to the junction just after 1.40pm but Mr Westnott was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a man who is believed to have had an epileptic fit at the wheel, stopped after the crash. He was not arrested.

Mr Westnott, a carpenter who had moved to Cheam three weeks earlier, had been shopping at Marks and Spencers and appeared to be on his way to visit his parents in Christchurch Close when he was hit.

His father, retired security guard Michael Westnott, had heard about the crash and gone to the end of his road to see the emergency services.

But he had no idea his son was involved in the crash until police visited his house later that afternoon.

"I was out in the garden and I saw the police so I came in and my daughter said to me, you'd better sit down and she said somebody's been killed.

"Then she said, 'It's Philip', and I couldn't believe it because I wasn't expecting him to be here that day and my heart went boom, boom, boom."

Philip Westnott was the eldest of three children, and grew up in Christchurch Close. He had lived with his parents for the past eight years before moving to Cheam.

He went to Singlegate Primary School, Fortescue Road School and Wimbledon College and was a devoted Arsenal and Celtic football fan.

He was also an avid reader and music fan who was often seen reading or listening to music as he walked around Colliers Wood.

His mother Teresa, 79, a former nurse at Springfield Hospital in Tooting, said: "It's terrible. A lot of people have been calling and you keep going back in your own mind.

"He had a lot of friends in the area and he was very generous and caring."

Friends gathered on Monday night to lay flowers and Arsenal and Celtic scarves where he died.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out this week.

Witnesses should contact Merton police on 020 8543 5157 or call 101. 

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