The Malta Independent 26 April 2024, Friday
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Five-year-old boy who inspired Lewis Hamilton dies

Tuesday, 4 June 2019, 12:05 Last update: about 6 years ago

A five-year-old boy with a rare form of cancer, who inspired Lewis Hamilton to victory in the Spanish Grand Prix, has died, the Guatrdian reports.

The reigning Formula One world champion was among a number of sports stars, including the cricketer Jos Buttler, former footballer Gary Lineker and grand slam tennis champion Novak Djokovic, to support fundraising by Harry Shaw.

Harry, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in August 2018, died on Saturday. He had recently moved back to his home in Redhill, Surrey, for his final days.

The youngster had “fought to the very end”, his family said. “His pain and suffering is over. It is impossible to imagine life without Harry and the hole he will leave in our lives. We are SO proud of Harry and everything he achieved in his life and the legacy he has created to help others. We miss him so much.”

Hamilton dedicated his win at last month’s Spanish Grand Prix to the child, describing him as his “spirit angel”, while Mercedes sent the trophy and one of its F1 cars to Harry’s home.

The Formula One driver had been alerted to his plight after he received a video message before the race in Barcelona.

He wrote in an Instagram post at the time: “You are such a strong boy, I wish I was as strong as you, I wanted the world to see how strong you are.”

Harry’s parents, Charlotte and James Shaw, set up the fundraising page after he was given just seven days to live on 29 April.

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