Kirsty MacColl tragically lost her life while heroically trying to save her son from danger on a family holiday.
The singer of the iconic 'Fairytale of New York' Christmas tune was only 41 when she passed away while holidaying with her two sons, Louis and Jamie, and her musician boyfriend James Knight, in Cozumel, Mexico, just before Christmas 2000. Her death came 13 years after the release of the beloved festive track alongside Shane MacGowan.
On December 18, Kirsty, an avid diver, and her family went for a dive at the Chankanaab reef, a designated diving area where watercrafts were not allowed, guided by experienced divemaster, Iván Díaz.
As they surfaced from a dive, Kirsty saw a powerboat speeding into the restricted area, heading straight for then 15 year old Jamie, the Mirror reports.
Kirsty managed to push Jamie out of the way, who suffered only minor injuries to his ribs and head. Tragically, the boat hit and ran over brave Kirsty, causing severe chest injuries that led to her immediate death.
The powerboat was owned by affluent businessman Guillermo Gonzalez Nova, who was on board during the dreadful accident. A crew member named Jose Cen Yam was eventually held responsible.
Just three years before her death on 27 March 1997, Kirsty wrote her will, outlining how she would distribute her £1.67 million fortune among her loved ones. According to documents obtained by the Mirror, Kirsty initially planned to leave £20,000 to a man named Lazaro Laza Antunez in Cuba.
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She also stated that her brother, Hamish MacColl, would receive £50,000 of her wealth. Kirsty further specified that if any of her children survived her, individuals known as Anne, Kieran, Juliett Guiot and Frances Tiplady would each receive £1,000.
However, if none of her children survived her, these individuals' legacies would increase to £10,000 each. The Croydon-born musician also instructed that what remained of her fortune after settling her debts, funeral costs, and any legacies given by the will should go to her trustees.
These included her children Jamie Patrick MacColl, Lillywhite and Louis Stephen MacColl, any future children, her mother Jean, her brother Hamish, and any charitable causes her Trustees deemed suitable at their discretion.
In August 2000, mere months before her untimely death, Kirsty altered her will, specifying she no longer wished to send money to Cuba and aimed to leave her Stroud property to her brother, with her estate being divided equally between her children and James Knight, post provisions for her mum and brother - this included song royalties.
£1,000 apiece was still destined for Annie, Fuz, Kieran, alongside Guiot in France, while all studio gear was bequeathed to James Knight. In a heart-wrenching 2014 chat with the Irish Sunday Mirror, Kirsty's mum Jean MacColl expressed her outrage at the Mexican justice system's handling of her daughter’s case, where the boat hand was fined merely £67.
Jean lamented: "It was £67, a trivial amount. I had to tell her sons on Mother's Day that that's all their mother's life was valued at. I was angry, I'm still angry. All I wanted was the truth.
"I didn't want his money, it's dirty. I just wanted him to tell me the truth but he didn't have the nerve or the courage. I even wrote him a letter saying I just wanted the truth but he never replied. I despise him completely. I don't know how he can live with himself."
The music world was reeling with shock and sorrow upon learning of MacColl's passing, feelings shared by her collaborator Shane MacGowan, who died in November 2023 at 65-years-old.
Recalling Kirsty's significant impact, Shane had said: "I'm very grateful to Christ and his Holy Mother and Joseph and all the saints, including my family who have passed on, for the success of Fairytale. And I was very grateful to Kirsty MacColl – I don't think it would have been such a big hit without her contribution."
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