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How karaoke clip of late son brought back parents' smiles

Lee BlakemanBBC Radio Stoke
News imageBBC A woman with her hair pulled back is wearing black sports clothes and standing next to a man with shaven black hair who is wearing a tshirt with a black strip along the shoulders, the remainder is teal and there is a yellow 14 on the chest. Behind them the wall has a purple glow.BBC
Donna and Dave Smith hope the festival in their son's name will raise awareness about epilepsy

The mother of a man who died following an epileptic fit is smiling again.

It's a video of her late son that's been amusing her, although it's one that still makes her cry.

The reson for Donna Smith's mirth is that son Liam is doing karaoke on the clip. There's just one problem - he can't sing. And, she says, the footage is gettting "funnier and funnier".

It's his love of music regardless that she has found so comforting, with plans for a music festival in his memory - to raise awareness of epilepsy - described by the family as amazing.

News imageSupplied A man with black hair is wearing a black shirt and black jacket. He is looking directly at the camera. He is standing against a grey backdrop.Supplied
Liam Smith died while working at a venue in Burslem

Smith died while working as a doorman at The Old Post Office venue in Burslem, Staffordshire, last month. He was 29.

Staff said his death was a tragic loss and vowed to support the festival, due to be held on 29 August next year.

The family hopes the event - conceived by a musician who was playing the night Smith died - will become an annual occasion.

News imagea man is wearing a black bandana, a black leather jacket and a black tshirt. He is smiling directly at the camera and behind him there is a purple glow against the wall
Matt Swan came up with the idea to host a festival because of the doorman's love of music

Smith was an avid music fan and regularly attended Download Festival, his parents told BBC Radio Stoke.

Donna Smith remembered of her son: "He was so funny. He'd do anything for a laugh, even if it was at his own expense.

"He couldn't sing but he got on karaoke and I've been sent a video of him singing. Even though watching it makes us cry, I've been watching it a lot more now because each time it just gets funnier and funnier."

She added: "Liam and I never knew when we were going to have a seizure, whereas some people get warning signs or they get a funny taste or can have absent seizures where they just stare at people."

The Epilepsy Foundation has described the condition as "the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world".

The idea for the festival in Liam Smith's honour came from musician Matt Swan - whose band played at The Old Post Office regularly and was playing the night Smith died.

Swan said: "He struck me as a consummate professional, he loved his music. We noticed a few times during gigs he was sort of bobbing in and out. I don't think he wanted to work that night. I think he wanted to be there with us."

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