A MUM who lost her only son yesterday, Tuesday, after he fell from a balcony while on holiday in Spain is urging parents to cherish every moment with their children.

Nicola Marshall, from Lostock Gralam, was holidaying with son Lucas Briscoe, aged 12, and his best friend, Ash Rose, in the Costa Del Sol resort of Fuengirola when the accident happened at 1.30pm in the family-owned apartment.

Lucas was a star of Knutsford Rugby Club's youth set-up.

Ash, who witnessed the tragedy, said he’s in disbelief. 

“He was a great friend and I have many happy memories but I am devastated at the loss," he said.

Lucas, a talented singer, was a pupil at St Nicholas Catholic High School in Hartford and was due to audition for TV programme The Voice this weekend.

He lived with his mum and also spent significant time with his dad, Gary Briscoe, who lives in Tytherington with step siblings, Sophie 19, and Alex 22.

His heartbroken mum Nicola said: “I can’t believe he’s gone. He was my world.

Knutsford Guardian:

"Please grab your child and cuddle them today and tell them how much you love them because they’re precious and you never know when tomorrow will never come.

“Lucas was my life, my soul, my everything. We were as close as a mother and son could ever be.

"From the moment I held my baby boy in my arms, to the young man he had become, my proudest moments were telling people he was mine.

“It was the last day of our holiday, I was in the kitchen preparing lunch and the boys were helping to pack and clean the apartment as we were due to fly home last night.

“We had the usual complaints over hoovering and cleaning…all the usual chaos before you go home - after a fantastic two weeks in the sun.

“But what should have been the final day of an amazing holiday ended up being the worst day of my life.

“I lost my world, my everything, when Lucas went over the balcony.

"A fall, a jump, a slip, a moment of silliness, boyish behaviour, annoyed at his mum for nagging him over hoovering. I will never know. But what I do know one million per cent is that if Lucas had truly known the repercussions of climbing over, he wouldn’t have wanted that. He wouldn’t have wanted to leave this world. Not yet.

“He had everything going for him – a school trip to Holland, his TV audition - he had formed a band with some friends at school and he’d won player of the year numerous times at Knutsford Rugby Club.

“I don’t think I will ever get over this. I’ve lost everything.”

Paramedics were called to the scene but were unable to save Lucas. His body will be flown back to the UK, and thousands are expected to attend the funeral.

The family have received outpourings of grief and touching tributes from the school, family, friends and Lucas’s rugby club. His dad Gary said: “Lucas was a memorable character – funny, outgoing, sociable – he is going to leave a big hole in a lot of lives.

“He packed so much into his 12 years and lived it to the full. I am devastated. No-one expects to say goodbye to a child and not in circumstances like this.

"We are devastated at losing our precious, vibrant and loving son.”