The father of 16-year-old Shayne Hambakachere, who died after being found seriously injured in Chippenham on Saturday, 31st January, has paid tribute to his son.
In a statement released this morning, Emmanuel Hambakachere described Shayne as ambitious, hard-working and full of life.
He wrote: “Shayne will be greatly missed. He had a great sense of humour and we will miss the way he laughed so loudly without any care in the world.
“He loved going to the gym to work out to stay fit and lean. He was good at sprinting and he was often chosen to compete for his school. Shayne was ambitious and driven; he was a hard worker with big dreams.
“There was a time when he worked two jobs just to make money to buy his heart’s desires without having to ask for money from family. He was also making money out of buying and reselling clothing and accessories online. With the money he made, he bought himself a big TV for his bedroom and had recently bought himself a Samsung S25 phone. He always used his money wisely and we admired that about him.
“At home, he made sure he did his chores on a daily basis. He always came home before his curfew and always communicated every time he left the house or came back. He was very helpful around the house and did whatever was asked of him without complaining. He was also very smart and tidy - he would not leave for school without making his bed.
“Shayne was a brave and bold young man. He was never afraid to speak his mind or to stand up for what he believed in.
“We are comforted to know that Shayne had a wonderful time on 25th December 2025, which we now realise was his very last Christmas. We had a buffet and played lots of games all night and Shayne won most of them and enjoyed every minute of it. We are glad we got to share so many wonderful moments with him in the last couple of weeks.
“We would like to thank all the doctors and staff at Southmead Hospital in Bristol who tried their best to save Shayne’s life while providing wonderful care and support to us every step of the way. One of the doctors offered to drive all the way from Bristol to Chippenham at 1am to fetch Shayne’s sister so she could say goodbye to her brother. We want you to know that we were touched by your kindness and we will forever be grateful.”
Those wishing to pay tribute to Shayne are invited to leave flowers or dedications by the front gate of Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, where he attended.
The tributes will be added to a tree within the school grounds dedicated to his memory. Members of the public have been asked to use this location in preference to London Road.
A statement from The Hardenhuish School said: "The Hardenhuish School community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our Year 11 students, Shayne Hambakachere, following an incident in Chippenham on Saturday.
"We are taking the time to remember this wonderful young person who had such a promising life ahead and to support our whole community in coming to terms with his loss and this tragic event. "
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