AN online fund-raising appeal has helped a Wellington mother fly to Canada after her son was killed by a hit-and-run driver who is now being sought by police.

Nearly £12,500 was quickly raised for Lesley Ellis, who flew out at the weekend to be with the family in Vancouver following the tragedy.

Her son, Marc Ellis, 38, who lived in Wellington as a teenager, was killed a fortnight ago while trying to rescue a stray dog on a rural road in the suburb of Abbotsford, Lower Mainland, British Columbia.

Mrs Ellis, of Olands Road, who works as a supervisor in nearby Wellington House care home, heard the news from her daughter Jennifer Wheeler, who lives with her.

Jennifer told the Wellington Weekly that Marc’s step-sister Tamsin Clarke telephoned and she became upset just as her mother came downstairs and heard what was going on.

She said: “She was distraught on the phone. It was definitely a shock.

“Mum just broke down in tears. She was extremely upset.

“We have quite a close friend who lives down the road and I ran to get her to be with mum.”

Marc was hit by a Dodge Ram pick-up truck driving on the wrong side of the road in the early hours of December 11.

A second vehicle then struck Marc, whose driver stopped and called the emergency services, but he died of his injuries at the scene.

Police found the damaged pick-up truck crashed a short distance away with the driver having apparently fled the scene.

Marc’s own truck was parked at the side of the road where he died.

The family, originally from South Africa, moved to Wellington in 2000 and Marc attended Cannington College where he studied to work with animals before taking a job in Tropiquaria zoo, near Watchet.

He later left to live with a friend in Spain for a few years before moving to Canada to be with his father Wayne Ellis about 12 years ago.

Jennifer said Marc had always been enthusiastic about reptiles and he kept lizards, snakes, and spiders.

Close friend Brad Hoffman started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Mrs Ellis to travel from Wellington to join a celebration of her son’s life and also to help support pets he left behind.

Marc was a well-known member of local dog and reptile communities and a member of the German Shepherd Schutzhund Club of Canada.

Mr Hoffman said Marc was ‘a great friend’ and a passionate member of the dog and reptile protection communities.

He said: “Marc was generous without fault, always striving to do his best. He was always willing to help, and was there for anybody.

“A life taken far too soon. The dog and reptile community have suffered a huge loss with his passing.”

Mr Hoffman said the money raised was being used to bring Mrs Ellis to Vancouver to say ‘goodbye’ to her son, and also to provide support to help care for his dogs and other pets left behind.

The funds went to Ms Clarke, who paid for Mrs Ellis’s travel and stay, and who was also helping with the care and maintenance of his other pets.

A spokesman for the German Shepherd Schutzhund Club of Canada said: “On December 11 we lost one of our own as Marc Ellis was tragically and unexpectedly taken from us when he was killed in a hit and run incident while trying to rescue a loose dog on the road.

“Marc was a long-time member trialing with his dogs Parker and Quin, volunteering on the helper committee, and working many dogs as a certified trial helper.

“In 2021 and 2022, Marc was selected as front-half helper for the Canadian Working Dog Federation all breed championships and already had plans for trying out in 2023.

“Marc was a gentlemen on and off the field, always showing class and sportsmanship with his big smile. Gone but never forgotten.”

Among online tributes paid to Marc, Kylee Evanuk said: “Marc was a very special person and had an absolute heart of gold.

“He was so kind and touched the lives of so many people.

“This is an absolute tragedy and my heart goes out to all those suffering from this incomprehensible loss.”

The local police department’s major crime unit had taken over the investigation into Mr Ellis’s death and officers were still hunting the hit-and-run driver at the time of going to press.