Heartfelt tributes to tragic child actor, 10, and aunt killed by car in police chase – as 23-year-old is charged over deaths
Stolen car pursued by police crashed into family
The TEN-year-old boy killed when a car being chased by police ploughed into him and his aunt was a "naturally gifted" child actor with a "bright" future.
Makayah McDermott and his auntie Rosie Cooper, 34 died as they were walking to the park with his older sisters.
As tributes to the pair flood in, police have today charged a 23-year-old man with causing death by dangerous driving.
Passers-by lifted the wreck to save twin girls in Penge, South East London and today the scene where little Makayah and his aunt Rosie were killed was turned into a shrine to the tragic pair.
The family were walking to a park when a speeding stolen vehicle being chased by police mounted the kerb.
Up to 20 passers-by lifted the black Ford Focus — embedded in a tree — so the twin girls aged 13 could scramble clear.
They appeared to escape with little more than scratches but Rosie's daughter, aged about seven, suffered horrific leg injuries.
Witnesses said she was cradled by a distraught man while the nephew, ten, spoke to rescuers despite appalling wounds.
But he suddenly blacked out and was pronounced dead at the scene in Penge, South East London.
Last night the lad was named locally as budding actor Makayah McDermott, who had just tried out for a TV series set in the 1950s.
His sisters were named as Niyah and Yahla, who have appeared in a cereal advert.
Local hairdresser Tony Dennis said: “Everyone is talking about it because they were so well liked — always laughing, always had smiles.
"It’s rare you see children like that, so naturally gifted.”
The family of Makayah were too upset to speak this morning.
The agent for tragic child actor Makayah today described him as a "bright young star".
Sam Brown of Brown and Mills Entertainment made the emotional tribute as the youngster and his aunt Rosie Cooper were formally identified.
Sam said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened and in shock following the devastating news that Makayah Mcdermott has lost his life after yesterdays tragic events.
"Makayah was an extremely talented young actor and a joy to be around. He had recently auditioned for a role in a new TV series and had been seen for a number of TV commercials.
"Makayah was a bright young star who had a strong passion and talent for acting.
";We were delighted to sign Makayah to the agency along with his twin sisters Yalah and Niyah and his cousin Eva , an incredibly talented family.
"We would like to pay tribute to Rozanne Cooper, Eva's mother and Auntie to Makayah who also lost her life.
"We cannot express enough our sadness and our thoughts are with the family at this terrible time."
Speaking on the doorstep of the family home, Omar McDermott, 37, said: "It's not the right time, I'm sorry it's just not the right time."
It is believed that Danielle Cooper, Makayah's mum, is still at hospital with her twins Niyah and Yayhla and their cousin who was also injured.
A friend of Rosie Cooper placed flowers at the spot where she died and said she is devastated by her friend's death.
Mum Emma Cameron placed a bouquet of flowers this morning with her two children, one of whom played with Rosie's daughter Eva.
Emma, who knew Rosie through their children, said the smash had hit their close knit community hard.
She said: "My daughter was friends with Rosie's daughter. Rosie never had a bad word to say about anyone, she was so good natured and a really lovely genuine person.
"It's just awful this has happened. My daughter Ava is of a similar age to Rosie's daughter Eva. It's so devastating.
"We last saw Rosie in April when we were watching the Grand National and she had her nieces and nephews with her like yesterday. A few years ago Rosie had also been involved in a hit and run in Beckenham.
"All of the children were so full of life so we just wanted to come and pay our respects and say how sorry we are. We are such a close knit community and something like this really hurts us."
Moments later staff from Alexandra Junior School paid their respects and brought flowers.
In a note the school said: "Taken too soon. Love from Ms Powell. From Alexandra Junior School".
A support teacher who helped all three of the McDermott kids while they were at school says she remembers "kind" and "smiling" children.
Ann Gholub worked at Alexandra Junior School as a teaching assistant and regularly saw Makayah and his twin sisters Nihyah and Yayhla.
The 70-year-old retired TA also said how proud she was when she saw the two girls on a TV advert for cereal.
She said: "I knew the two girls and the eldest too before she went to the America. Those children were always smiling and they were always so friendly.
"The two girls were on a TV advert for cereal too. I remember watching it and thinking, 'oh they look familiar'. He was going to grow up to be an actor. I was very proud of them all.
"The family were so nice and so were the kids, you couldn't really fault them. The girls used to see me quite often and my last memory of the boy is him outside the toilet smiling at me.
"I can see him now when I close my eyes. I used to support children that needed help. They were lovely, beautiful children.
"My daughter called me yesterday afternoon in a panic because she thought I had been involved. But then I got a call from someone I used to work with saying the kids had been hit."
Neighbours of Rosie today described her as "a lovely girl".
Donasha Ward, 32, a teaching assistant and mother-of-three said: "It's so tragic, I knew her to say hi as our kids played outside together.
"She was no trouble, it's really quiet round here, she was really nice, just a lovely girl."
Frank Malone, 53, who lives nearby and is an accountant, said: "She was a fantastic person, she was lovely, always polite and said hello.
"She was probably one of my favourite neighbours. It's just so sad because she got on with everyone and was so young."
Another neighbour added: "She was a lovely person, she was the nicest neighbour and we're all so shocked.
"Her daughter is in year 3 so was about eight or nine. She worked as a hairdresser nearby."
Another neighbour who did not want to be named said: "I only knew her stepdad Malcolm, I didn't know her natural dad.
"I got the impression they were a very close family and she was very close to Malcolm. She was so lovely I'm just so distraught, I've had to stay off work today because I'm so upset."
Flowers and candles have been left close to where a car fleeing police smashed into the family as they walked to their local park.
Mourners and well-wishers left bouquets and a teddy bear, and flowers continued to to arrive.
A police van with an officer also remained at the scene.
A note pinned to the tree said: ";Taken so sadly, may the angels look after you. God bless, Dean and Kerry."
One mourner, who paid her respects said: "I didn't know the family, I'm on my way to work and I live around the corner.
"It's so tragic. Very sad."
The vehicle turned left into a 30mph residential street and careered on to the wrong side of the road at 2.05pm.
The victims had been heading to the adjacent Alexandra Park and planned to go on to a cinema.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating.
Pursuit drivers are usually trained to back off if lives are in danger.
Venissa Vassell, 18, was waiting at a bus stop when she heard sirens, screeching tyres and the smash.
She said: “I saw five bodies. A grandad was holding the lady as she died. The youngest girl had broken both legs. She was stuck under the car screaming in agony, ‘I can’t feel my legs’.”
Another witness called Michael said: “It all happened so quick. The whole area was cordoned off, then an air ambulance came down and took one of the casualties away.
“I spoke to a bus driver who said she saw the car coming around the bend at about 70mph.”
A resident said: “The police officers who were chasing the car were distraught.”
Last night Makayah’s headteacher at Alexandra Junior School paid tribute to him.
Claudette Maragh said: “We are extremely saddened by this awful tragedy. Makayah was a fun, bubbly boy and a really popular member of our school community. His loss is deeply felt by us all.
“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with Makayah’s family at this time.
“We will be offering support to our children, families and staff, and I am sure that the community will come together in their love and support for Makayah’s family.”
Fellow pupil Ben Gray, 13, said Makayah was “fun” and “cool”.
He added: “He was nice. He just got on well with the teachers and everything.
“His sisters are really nice too. They were on an advert on TV last year. Everyone likes them around here and at school.”
Shopkeeper Sam Sampat said he often served the twins and their brother.
He said: “The little boy used to come in with them in his school uniform to buy sweets.”
Scotland Yard said Joshua Dobby, 23, has been charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of 10-year-old Makayah McDermott and his aunt Rosie Cooper, 34, in south-east London on Wednesday.
Questions on pursuit
ROAD safety campaigners last night questioned whether cops should have halted their high-speed chase before tragedy hit.
Officers are said to have pursued the joyrider for five minutes before he lost control.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched a probe. Amy Aeron-Thomas of lobby group Road Peace said: “In the past we’ve said chases are only justified if they prevent violent crime.”