Amanda and Nick Pearce are grappling with the devastating loss of their younger son, Edward, who died in a roadside accident this summer, 14 years after their elder son, William, died of cancer.

Edward, 20, known to friends as Bunty, was killed when a Mercedes Sprinter van collided with him as he changed a flat tire on an A-road. His parents described the incident as a moment that shattered their world.

"I don't know how we carry on without him. I really don't. It just doesn't feel real. It doesn't feel like the world could possibly be this cruel to take both of our boys," Amanda Pearce told the Daily Mail. "He carried us through everything. He didn't know it but he pulled us through Will's death and now we've got nothing, nothing left."

Edward's death occurred 14 years after the family lost William to leukemia. At the age of four, Edward had donated bone marrow in an attempt to save his brother, a selfless act that now carries a bittersweet memory for his parents.

Despite Edward's bone marrow donation, William died of the disease two years later. The brothers were described as inseparable, with Edward often wearing a bandana in solidarity with William, who lost his hair during treatment.

Following his own death, Edward was able to save seven lives through organ donation, a decision he made years prior. He had registered as an organ donor as early as possible and re-registered upon obtaining his driver's license.

"He didn't want any chance of that not being on there," Nick Pearce said of his son's commitment to organ donation. Organ donation in Britain now operates under an 'opt-out' system, but Edward had registered his wishes long before its rollout in 2020.

Edward was a trainee plumber with plans to move to Australia with his best friend. His final day was described as the "best Sunday he had ever had," spent with his girlfriend, Arabella, engaging in activities they both enjoyed. He had set off for work early on Monday morning when he discovered the flat tire.

His girlfriend, Arabella, shared her grief, stating, "Ed became my everything almost instantly, it wasn't just his beautiful face but his amazing character. He was a gentle soul with a big heart and even bigger smile."

The driver of the Mercedes van, a 31-year-old man from Bexhill, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drug driving. He has since been released on bail. Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage from the area at the time of the incident to come forward, referencing Operation Wickham.

In memory of Edward, the family is raising money for the Children With Cancer Fund, an organization that supported them after William's death. The profound grief of losing both sons has left the parents feeling as though their future has been erased. "Everything stopped on that day. On that Monday the 13th. It is so horrific. We've got nothing now," Mrs. Pearce stated.