Jordan Welsby, from St Helens, suffered fatal head injuries when he was hit by a Vauxhall Corsa on Prescot Road on Boxing Day 2020.

The Blackbrook amateur player was taken to hospital by ambulance, where he died five days later surrounded by family. He was 26.

His loved ones are now speaking out on how Jordan’s death has left them with “a huge hole” in their lives.

t comes after the Star reported how the driver of the car Faisal Yasin, 25, of Rochdale, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 17 months at a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.

He previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

The collision happened near to where Prescot Road splits off on to Borough Road.

Prior to his death, Jordan had played representative rugby for St Helens, Lancashire and Great Britain in the British Amateur Rugby League Association.

He also enjoyed spending time with his family.

In a statement, Jordan’s family, said: “Losing Jordan has left a huge hole in our lives.

“He was kind, caring and an all round wonderful person. To this day it’s still a struggle to come to terms with him no longer being here.

“We’ll never forget the moment we were told what had happened.

“We’d enjoyed a lovely Christmas together and then he was gone.

“It was all so sudden and no words can describe the devastation we felt and continue to feel. Jordan had his whole life ahead of him but it was cruelly taken away from him.

“Jordan was one of those people who lit up a room.

“No sentence will ever make up for losing him. All we can hope for now is that by speaking out we can help prevent something similar happening to others.

“Jordan’s life was cut short by the careless actions of a driver, and no family should ever have to go through that.

“The only small comfort we can take from all of this is that Jordan’s selfless actions and donating his organs has provided the gift of life to others.”