Zacharias Atkinson, better known as Puddy, died unexpectedly last year
Zacharias Atkinson, right, known by his loved ones as Puddy, with his close friend James Watson
Zacharias Atkinson, right, known by his loved ones as Puddy, with his close friend James Watson
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(Image: Supplied)
A man thinks about his best friend "every day" after he died at work. Zacharias Atkinson, known by his loved ones as Puddy, died just weeks before Christmas Day in 2024 following an accident at work.
Merseyside Police were called at around 1.10pm on Wednesday, December 11 to Langton Dock in Bootle, off Regent Road but the 19 year-old from Old Swan was found dead at the scene. His heartbroken family said his life was "taken in the most horrific circumstances."
In a tribute, shared by Merseyside Police at the time, they said: “Our beautiful boy Puddy has had his young life taken in the most horrific circumstances.
“He loved life and lived every moment to the fullest. He loved Liverpool Football Club, he adored every one of his friends and family. Our family and all of his friends are devastated beyond words. Nobody should go to work and not come home.”
Puddy’s story resonated with people from Merseyside and beyond, with banners in his honour hung from the stands at Liverpool matches and thousands raised for his funeral costs.
A year on from Puddy’s death, his close friend James Watson, 20, from Norris Green, said they met when they started West Derby School in Tuebrook and quickly became best mates.
Puddy died following an industrial accident at the Langton Dock
Puddy died following an industrial accident at the Langton Dock
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(Image: Family/Merseyside Police)
James told the ECHO last month: "We dropped him off at his house on Tuesday night then the next day we got the worst phone call I have ever got.
"His mum and his family had to go to the docks and then they started ringing us all [his friendship group] telling us what had happened. I'll never forget that phone call."
Now, James is preparing for an emotional Christmas day. Since December 1, he has been running every day.
The 25 days of running will conclude tomorrow and the finish line will be at Puddy’s family home. By the time he wraps up, James will have run 325 miles in memory of his friend.
All money raised will go towards Alder Hey Children's Charity. On why he decided to take up the enormous challenge, James told the ECHO today: “I’ve got loads of memories of him. You think about them every day obviously because he’s not around.
“The main goal was to take people’s minds off it. Everyone’s going to sit around and think about how sad it’s been.
“This is a way to bring a bit more happiness to the month of December. Everyone’s chipped in. The lad’s have done some of the runs. I speak to his mum every day about it, so it’s just a bit of a distraction really.
“I’ve seen people do 325km, so I thought I’d up the ante and do it in miles. I've done a full marathon once, but believe me, it seems like a walk in the park now compared to what this has been like.
“I’m running in the torrential rain. I went on holiday to Amsterdam and I had to run there as well.”
Thanks to the run, Puddy’s legacy will be spread quite literally across the city. James said: “I made a list when I started the run of places that meant something to either me and Puddy or his other friends and family.
“We’ve got stickers that say RIP Puddy on, so they’ve been stuck in pubs we used to go to, there's one outside our school where we used to play sports, there's one outside Anfield.”
The run will finish tomorrow when James arrives at Puddy’s family house, where he will be greeted by Puddy’s family and his own.
James said: “I thought I'd finish it on Christmas Day because it brings everyone together. I’m finishing at his house.
“The emotion will take over, just the relief of finishing and obviously seeing all this family and what it's for. I know the tiny tears will probably come.”
“I just want to say a big thank you for the support. I know it's me who's doing the running, but I obviously wouldn't have been able to do even half of it without all the donations.
“It has probably been the hardest thing I've ever done but it’s nothing compared to losing Puddy. That’s the whole point - what I’ve been through is nothing compared to last year.”
You can find out more about the fundraiser here.