Former “Race Across the World” contestant Sam Gardiner has died following a car crash. He was 24.
Gardiner was behind the wheel of a white Volkswagen in Manchester, England, on Monday night when the vehicle left the roadway, overturned, and landed on its side, according to Greater Manchester Police.
He was the only passenger of the vehicle, police added.
The Brit was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries on May 29.
“His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers,” police said in a statement Sunday.
Gardiner’s heartbroken parents, mother Jo and father Andrew, said they were “devastated by the loss” in a statement obtained by The Post.
“Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special,” the family said.
Jo and Andrew described their son as “loyal, funny and fiercely protective,” and said that he was “adored” by his family as a son, brother and nephew.
In their heartfelt statement, they remembered Gardiner’s time on “Race Across the World,” saying the experience “opened his eyes to the wonder of adventure and travel.”
“He was willing to go wherever the trail might lead and he touched everyone he met on the road. He found great happiness working as a landscape gardener on the west coast of Scotland,” they went on.
“Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts.”
“We will miss him endlessly, but we’ll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade,” they concluded.
At the time of his death, Gardiner had been employed as a landscape gardener in Scotland, but was visiting family in Manchester when the accident took place.
Gardiner appeared on Season 2 of the hit BBC series alongside his mother in March 2020. He was 19 at the time.
During their time on the show, the mother-son duo traveled across Mexico and Argentina with no phones.
Emon Choudhury, who won the series that year with his nephew Jamiul, took to social media to pay his respects to Gardiner as he remembered their time on the show.
“Sam was pure sunshine in human form. his kindness was a beacon for anyone lucky enough to cross his path,” Choudhury wrote on Instagram alongside several snaps of them together in previous years.
“He made us feel seen, supported, and braver than we ever thought possible. With every warm smile and encouraging word, he reminded us that life’s greatest treasures are the connections we make and the love we share.”
A spokesperson for the hit BBC show said that a private funeral will be held for Gardiner’s family and friends in the coming days.
“The family have asked for privacy at this terrible time,” the spokesperson said, adding that “everyone who worked with him, and indeed everyone who watched Sam, could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum Jo.”
Gardiner “embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina, making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result,” the spokesperson said, in part.
Gardiner is survived by his parents Jo and Andrew, stepmother Justine, and brothers Charlie and William.
