Tributes are flowing in for a talented young footballer who tragically passed away in a flat fire incident. Tommy Ballay-Dean, also known as Junior Dean, lost his life in a fire that erupted in a first-floor flat on Cooper’s Road in Southwark, south London, on Wednesday afternoon. Another teenage boy managed to escape the blaze before firefighters arrived and was subsequently hospitalized, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
An online fundraiser has been launched to assist Junior’s family with funeral expenses. The fundraiser highlighted Junior as a central figure in the Southwark community, known for his unwavering faith, talent, and selfless nature. He was recognized for leading prayers before matches and uplifting those around him.
The fundraiser expressed sympathies to Junior’s family, friends, classmates at St Thomas the Apostle School in Nunhead, teammates at Mass Elite, and his previous affiliations with clubs like Blasé Ballers FC and Rotherhithe FC. Within just two days of its initiation, the fundraiser had already raised over £35,000.
Hudayfi Awale, a former football coach of Junior, praised him as not just a skilled footballer but also an exceptional individual. Awale remembered Junior as someone who brightened every room with his infectious smile, humor, and respectfulness. Quadrant Performance Academy announced a tournament in honor of Junior on April 11, with all proceeds dedicated to supporting his family.
The LFB responded to the fire call just before 3 pm on Wednesday, deploying crews from various fire stations to tackle the blaze in the six-storey building near Old Kent Road Fire Station. The fire was successfully contained by around 4.30 pm, with the assistance of a 64-meter turntable ladder from Old Kent Road Fire Station. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the LFB’s Fire Investigation Unit and the Metropolitan Police.
