> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 'Forever 18': family's appeal to honour son Joel Sousa - URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/forever-18-familys-appeal-to-honour-son-joel-sousa/ - Published: 2026-11-03T16:50:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T17:39:36.000Z - Description: The family of Joel Sousa, who died on the Orwell Bridge on 16 October, has remembered him as "a gentle, quiet and respectful young man" as they appeal for help to give him the farewell he deserves. - Author: Nicola Sebastian - Tags: News, Grants, Donations & Fundraising, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) **Why it matters:** A GoFundMe appeal for the 18-year-old's family has raised nearly £8,000 at the time of writing, over half of its £15,000 target, to pay for his funeral, independent legal advice and support for his mother. **Remembering Joel:** His family said Joel enjoyed "his own space, listening to music and playing video games". "He was naturally reserved, but those who knew him understood how kind-hearted he was. He wasn't someone who caused trouble or sought attention. He was simply a young man trying to find his way in life," the family wrote. "He was a much-loved son, brother, godson, cousin and friend, with his whole future still ahead of him." **The details:** Joel had been receiving care on Poppy Ward, an inpatient mental health ward, before being transferred to Brantham Ward at Ipswich Hospital for further assessment on Thursday, 15 October 2026, his family said. He died following a road traffic collision on the Orwell Bridge in the early hours of the next day, after leaving the ward, according to the family's GoFundMe page. Police were called by the ambulance service at 03:41am to reports of a person on the westbound carriageway. His family said the man pronounced dead at the scene was Joel. The A14 was closed in both directions between junction 56, Wherstead, and junction 57, Nacton. The family said Joel's mother left home to search for him as soon as the hospital told her he was missing, but became caught in heavy traffic caused by the bridge closure. "What she didn't know was that the collision behind those delays involved the very son she was desperately trying to find," the family wrote. "She had trusted the hospital to care for her son. She believed he was somewhere he could receive help and recover. Instead, she is now having to prepare his funeral." **By the numbers:** The family has set out how it plans to use the £15,000, describing the figures as provisional estimates: - £5,000 for funeral and memorial expenses, "to give Joel a dignified and loving farewell" - £5,000 for independent legal representation and investigation-related costs, to help the family understand what happened - £4,000 to support Joel's mother with essential living expenses while she grieves and cares for her family and her newborn baby - £1,000 for fundraising fees and unforeseen expenses **What they're saying:** "We are not claiming that negligence has already been established. We simply want the truth, a thorough examination of what happened and accountability if failures are identified," the family said. "Joel deserves to be remembered for who he was, not defined by rumours about how he died." The family added "even if you cannot contribute financially, simply sharing Joel's story would mean so much to us". **The trust's response:** Anthony Deery, chief nurse at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family, friends and loved ones of the person who died following a fatal collision on the A14 Orwell Bridge on 16 October. "We are working closely with our partner agencies and will ensure family members are involved and supported as investigations continue and ahead of a full inquest, which will take place in due course." **What's next:** The trust said investigations were continuing and that a full inquest would take place in due course. **The bottom line:** Hundreds of people have already given to help Joel's family say goodbye to a much-loved son and seek answers about his death, as it asks that he be remembered for the gentle young man he was. [Donate to the GoFundMe](https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-joel-sousa-help-us-find-answers-honour-him?ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£80 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.