A bereaved Newton Poppleford couple have praised a utility company’s sensitivity after they were forwarded a bill from their son – two years after his death.

South West Water (SWW) cancelled the bill and sent Laurie and Jasmine Hendrick flowers to apologise for the incident.

The letter had been sent on from the Exmouth home of their son Luke, a father of two who died in September 2014 aged 37 after doctors misdiagnosed his sepsis.

Speaking last Friday, Capper Close resident Laurie said: “My wife spoke to a young lad called Tommii at SWW, who immediately cancelled the bill.

“Today, my wife received a boxed flower arrangement, with a lovely note from Tommii at SWW, to say sorry for the stress caused.

“This was such an unexpected and lovely gesture, and I understand that Tommii requested this himself, which is so respectful and caring.

“We would like to publicly thank this young man, and SWW, for this considerate and compassionate act – it has restored our faith in people.

“In this world of insensitivity and pain, it’s nice to know that there are decent people out there.

“Thank you Tommii. You are a credit to your parents and an asset to your company.”

Laurie has been working to raise awareness of sepsis since Luke’s death, in the hope that others learn to recognise the flu-like symptoms, which can be treated with antibiotics if they are caught early.

He converted his son’s Honda Del Sol to look like the Cars character Lightning McQueen – because sepsis can ‘strike as fast as lightning’ – but now he has acquired the vehicle Disney used to promote the animated film when it was released in 2006.

Laurie plans to take the vehicle on a sponsored awareness drive from Exeter to Costa Brava and back again in May.

Acquiring the car means Luke’s can be put in storage for his son Dalton to enjoy when he is old enough to drive.