TRAGEDY has followed the Peers family for many years.

Jason Peers' violent death at the weekend is just the latest heartache his friends and relatives have struggled to make sense of.

At the age of 18, football fan Jason from Vanguard Road, Bournemouth, lost his leg after being knocked off his bike by a car in December 1988.

He lost his plasterer's job and the chance to play football or box; the other sport he had excelled at.

Surgeons fitted 10 steel pins in Jason's crushed shin and later he had his leg amputated from the knee down. An artificial limb was fitted and intensive physiotherapy followed.

His friends rallied round to ensure 1990 was a happier year for Jason by staging a New Year's Day charity football match.

In June 2000, Jason was devastated when his brother, 35-year-old Mark, was killed in a hit and run crash as they left the Glasshouse pub in Wimborne Road, Winton, with friends.

The driver involved was fined £300 and ordered to carry out 240 hours community service.

Mark and Jason's mother Pat Peers told the Daily Echo at the time: "Mark's death has torn our family apart and all he has got to do is a bit of community service."

A year later she said she still couldn't bear to walk past the pub where her son had spent his last hours.

"I still look at the clock on Friday nights when he used to get ready and go out. But he's not there anymore. They say time's a great healer but it is going to take a long time to get over this."

Around 400 people attended Mark's funeral service.

Now the Peers family is struggling to come to terms with 38-year-old Jason's death.

An ambulance crew was called at 12.31 am on Sunday after Jason suffered a head injury outside the Dolphin public house in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth.

He was taken to the Royal Bournemouth hospital and died at 6.05pm the same day.

One of Jason's neighbours Margaret Harris said: "He was nice and always polite; it's come as a shock."

Former school friend Helen John, who last saw Jason on Saturday afternoon, said: "His mum is going to be devastated at losing her second son. He was such a lovely guy."

A family friend who didn't want to be named said: "Losing one son in such tragic circumstances is terrible for any parent, but losing two is unbearable. His mother will be devastated."

A 29-year-old Bournemouth man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with Jason's death. Anyone with information should call police on 01202 222222 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.