Tragic tractor crash claims Stuart Pearce's son

Emergency services respond to a road traffic accident (Illustrative image - AI generated) Upday Stock Images

Harley Pearce, the 21-year-old son of England football legend Stuart Pearce, has died in a tragic tractor crash in Gloucestershire. The young entrepreneur lost control of his farm vehicle on a country road near his family home in Wiltshire last Thursday afternoon.

Emergency services were called at around 2:30pm to a report of a collision involving a tractor on the A417 Old Birdlip Hill in Witcombe. Harley died at the scene after his tractor suffered a possible tyre blow-out, causing him to veer off the road. A source told the Daily Mail: "From what we've been told is Harley's tractor had a blow out and he lost control."

Gloucestershire Police confirmed that Harley's parents have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. The force is appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant dashcam footage to contact them.

Family grief and tributes

Harley was the youngest of two children Stuart had with his ex-wife Liz during their 20-year marriage that ended in 2013. The former couple also have an older daughter, Chelsea, who is an accomplished equestrian rider competing at three European Championships for Great Britain.

Harley ran his own successful business, Harley Pearce Agricultural Service, working on farms across the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire border. He lived near Marlborough in Wiltshire and had built a promising career in the farming industry at just 21 years old.

Stuart Pearce's football legacy

Stuart Pearce, known as "Psycho" during his playing career, won 78 caps for England and scored five goals for his country. The former left-back was a key figure in Euro 96 and played for clubs including Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United and Manchester City.

In 1999, Stuart was awarded an MBE by the late Queen for his playing career and charity work. In recent years, he has worked as a pundit and co-commentator for talkSPORT.

According to the Daily Star, Stuart experienced a health scare in March when he suffered chest pains during a Las Vegas-Heathrow flight. The flight was diverted to St John's, Canada, where he spent five days in hospital before recovering.

Personal family moments

In a touching anecdote shared with talkSPORT in 2020, Stuart revealed how he helped eight-year-old Harley win his school's Fantasy Football league. Pretending he needed information for the England Under-21 team, Stuart called then Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to ask about team selection for the final game of the season.

Stuart himself survived a serious car crash in 1998 when a lorry overturned and landed on his vehicle. He escaped with only minor hand injuries and a stiff back.

Investigation continues

Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Stuart Pearce has been approached for comment but has not yet responded publicly to the tragic loss of his son.

Sources used: "Daily Mail", "Daily Star", "Mirror", "Yorkshire", "The Standard", "GB News", "talkSPORT"

Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.