‘This should never happen again’

says DAVID LINSEY

The Linsey family had always been incredibly close. Their family life was, until this year, happily normal: Busy, joyful, filled with shared Sunday lunches, school, friends and a passion for travel.

‘Amelie was the glue that held us all together,’ David says of his fashion-loving younger sister. ‘She was the boss, and everyone’s best friend.’

His brother, Daniel, was selfless, volunteered for various charities and was happiest when he was helping other people.

But on Easter Sunday this year, the Linseys were devastated by tragedy. Terrorists detonated eight bombs across Sri Lanka, targeting innocent churchgoers and hotel guests.

It was a crime that shocked the whole world – an evil act, with repercussions reaching far and wide – including this loving family from London.

David’s siblings Daniel, 19, and Amelie, 15, who were on holiday in Sri Lankan capital Colombo with their dad,

Matthew, perished along with more than 250 other victims.

David was at home with his mum and younger brother

Ethan, revising for his university exams, when the life-changing news reached them.

Speaking to their dad on the phone brought some comfort, but the loss of much-loved siblings – in such a senseless, random crime – has been an almost unbearable loss. And it’s one that remains both incredibly raw and difficult to talk about.

Through his crippling grief, 21-year-old David wanted to do something to unite his family, to bring them back together again. He was also determined to keep the memories of Daniel and Amelie alive.

With courage beyond his years, just a month after losing his teenage brother and sister, he launched the Amelie and Daniel Linsey Foundation.

The foundation aims to help families of the bombing victims with counselling, housing and education, as well as better equipping Sri Lankan hospitals and doctors.

The Amelie and Daniel Linsey Foundation has already raised thousands of pounds to help affected families, and David has travelled to Sri Lanka several times to ensure money is getting to the right places. ‘ We’ve spoken to doctors, government officials and hospitals,’ he says.

The Oxford University student is also fighting to crack down on extremist online content, and says there needs to be far greater scrutiny on the internet.

‘People need to come together to condemn this and to give people who are looking for an interpretation of their faith something other than extremism, which is what causes a lot of this,’ he says. ‘There needs to be a huge crackdown on online content – it is probably the single most important thing that needs to change.’

It’s important to David that people try not to feel angry, though. Rather, he wants to stop another tragedy like this from happening again.

We think his brother and sister would be proud of David and what he’s trying to achieve. He is undoubtedly a well-deserving recipient of a best Heroes Award and a true gentleman, congratulating fellow winners on the night.

‘I will carry on Daniel and Amelie’s legacies for the rest of my life,’ he vows.