A family is grieving for a man killed in a motorbike accident on the way to paying his godson a surprise visit.
Paulo Miguel Pereira, 26, of Hilary Road, Shepherd's Bush, died of a broken neck after an accident involving a car driven by a 94-year-old man at 9.50am last Sunday on the A3 in New Malden.
Mr Pereira, an Audi sales executive, was declared dead at the scene.
His brother, Marcio Pereira, 25, who also lives in the family home, said he was at work when his father, Jose Pereira, arrived with the news.
On Monday he said: "At first I didn't believe him. I thought he had misunderstood.
"Then we went to the hospital to identify him."
Paulo's girlfriend, Tanya Marques, 26, of Kenyon Street, Fulham, thinks he was intending to say goodbye to his two-year-old godson Rafael Pereira, who was about to go to Portugal with his family.
"It was a surprise visit," she said. Before the tragedy,
Rafael's parents left a message on Paulo's phone on Rafael's behalf, which his godfather never heard. It said: 'You are the best godfather in the world. We are going to have such a great future together and be friends forever.'
Brother Marcio added: "There was never a dull moment with Paulo. All our times together were great. "He was going to get a flat with Tanya and they were going to spend the rest of their lives together."
Tanya wept as she said had been with Paulo for eight years. "We went to primary school together," she added. "I don't think it's sunk in yet. I just keep thinking he's going to walk back in any moment now."
Both brothers attended St Thomas' RC Primary School in Estcourt Road, Fulham, then St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College in St Charles Square, North Kensington.
A Metropolitan police spokesman said the accident involving Paulo's Honda CBR and a blue BMW happened after a lane-changing manoeuvre. The car driver stopped at the scene but was not arrested.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday at St Stephen's Church in Coverdale Road, Shepherd's Bush, followed by a funeral in Mr Pereira's native Portugal today.
