Zane's mother Nicole Lawler said: "We miss Zane’s chats, his lovely voice, his love of cars, his friends, his teachers and, of course, chatting about books."
Zane Gbangbola would have celebrated his 10th birthday on Friday.
The "kind and beautiful" schoolboy died aged seven at his Thameside home in Chertsey during the February 2014 floods.
On the eve of his birthday, Get Surrey spoke to Zane's mother Nicole Lawler about her son’s talents and passions at school and in his spare time, and their ongoing pain of losing a child.
“For us, the seven years we enjoyed with Zane were the best seven years of our lives,” said Nicole.
“The world is a poorer place without him. We were exceptionally proud of him.
Read More“Double figures is a big thing, and in our household, we would celebrate everything. We would do things like go to the cinema dressed as pirates, we would embrace the fun of it.
"That was us. Birthdays were always big.”
Zane was found unresponsive at his home by his mother and taken to hospital along with his father Kye Gbangbola.
Kye was later left paralysed from the waist down and now requires the use of a wheelchair.
Read More“We shared a body and then we shared a shadow,” said Nicole. “We would take him everywhere with us. We were the only people who put him to bed and woke him up. We didn’t rely on anyone else.
“We miss Zane’s chats, his lovely voice, his love of cars, his friends, his teachers and of course chatting about books. And we miss much more about our lives together.
"I hope people remember his beautiful smile, his kindness, his jokes, his work in the classroom, on the pitch and fun in the playground.
“He was a truly remarkable boy. Zane had so much to offer. We love Zane so much and we have always admired and been inspired by him because he truly was an extraordinary human being.”
Nicole said Zane, who went to St George’s Junior School in Weybridge, was passionate about raising money for charity.
Read MoreHe collected money for his Sunday school, the community, and charities like the Sickle Cell Society and Children in Need.
He was so keen to lend a hand at the Salvation Army Christmas Day lunch in Addlestone, he encouraged his family to stay instead of going home to enjoy festivities.
“One of the great differences he made was as the founder member of St George’s Junior School Green Team,” said Nicole. “Sustainability and the environment was a seamless thread that went through him.”
The "kind and beautiful" schoolboy died aged seven at his Thameside home in Chertsey during the February 2014 floods.
On the eve of his birthday, Get Surrey spoke to Zane's mother Nicole Lawler about her son’s talents and passions at school and in his spare time, and their ongoing pain of losing a child.
“For us, the seven years we enjoyed with Zane were the best seven years of our lives,” said Nicole.
“The world is a poorer place without him. We were exceptionally proud of him.
Read More“Double figures is a big thing, and in our household, we would celebrate everything. We would do things like go to the cinema dressed as pirates, we would embrace the fun of it.
"That was us. Birthdays were always big.”
Zane was found unresponsive at his home by his mother and taken to hospital along with his father Kye Gbangbola.
Kye was later left paralysed from the waist down and now requires the use of a wheelchair.
Read More“We shared a body and then we shared a shadow,” said Nicole. “We would take him everywhere with us. We were the only people who put him to bed and woke him up. We didn’t rely on anyone else.
“We miss Zane’s chats, his lovely voice, his love of cars, his friends, his teachers and of course chatting about books. And we miss much more about our lives together.
"I hope people remember his beautiful smile, his kindness, his jokes, his work in the classroom, on the pitch and fun in the playground.
“He was a truly remarkable boy. Zane had so much to offer. We love Zane so much and we have always admired and been inspired by him because he truly was an extraordinary human being.”
Nicole said Zane, who went to St George’s Junior School in Weybridge, was passionate about raising money for charity.
Read MoreHe collected money for his Sunday school, the community, and charities like the Sickle Cell Society and Children in Need.
He was so keen to lend a hand at the Salvation Army Christmas Day lunch in Addlestone, he encouraged his family to stay instead of going home to enjoy festivities.
“One of the great differences he made was as the founder member of St George’s Junior School Green Team,” said Nicole. “Sustainability and the environment was a seamless thread that went through him.”
 | Zane was also a car fan and was the Bloodhound Project’s youngest Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ambassador. The project is a "global engineering adventure", using a 1,000mph world land speed record attempt to inspire the next generation. He would join his parents, who are also project ambassadors, taking part in presentations about the scheme to other school children. |
Read MoreTo mark Zane’s birthday, his parents will be visiting Bristol to see the Bloodhound team, who "felt Zane’s loss greatly". Zane’s coffin was made as a replica of the supersonic Bloodhound SCC.
Zane also enjoyed BMX riding and taekwondo, and took grading just before he died.
“He was going to get his green belt,” she said. “There was a few of them collecting their belts and they didn’t have enough. Zane was given his but he said ‘ladies first’ and let the girl next to his have it.
"He died that weekend. We got it afterwards and it went with him. But it shows what a beautiful child he was.”Following the outcome of the inquest last month, which ruled Zane died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from a hired petrol pump, his parents called for a an independent inquiry into the outcome.
The family maintain Zane was killed after floodwater, contaminated by deadly cyanide gas from a former landfill site near the home, leaked into their house.
Read More“We believe we were the only people motivated to find the truth at the inquest,” added Nicole.
“Following the verdict, we realised that this is going to be a much longer fight.
"The Truth About Zane group and campaigners behind it are as strong as ever and as committed as ever about securing the truth.
“As a family, we feel blessed about their love and support. Some days we wouldn’t manage without them.”
Zane also enjoyed BMX riding and taekwondo, and took grading just before he died.
“He was going to get his green belt,” she said. “There was a few of them collecting their belts and they didn’t have enough. Zane was given his but he said ‘ladies first’ and let the girl next to his have it.
"He died that weekend. We got it afterwards and it went with him. But it shows what a beautiful child he was.”Following the outcome of the inquest last month, which ruled Zane died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from a hired petrol pump, his parents called for a an independent inquiry into the outcome.
The family maintain Zane was killed after floodwater, contaminated by deadly cyanide gas from a former landfill site near the home, leaked into their house.
Read More“We believe we were the only people motivated to find the truth at the inquest,” added Nicole.
“Following the verdict, we realised that this is going to be a much longer fight.
"The Truth About Zane group and campaigners behind it are as strong as ever and as committed as ever about securing the truth.
“As a family, we feel blessed about their love and support. Some days we wouldn’t manage without them.”
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