Izzy Hancock’s mum Samantha Cottee and stepdad Roland Longbottom pay touching tribute to daughter lost too soon

As CFS life members, Izzy Hancock’s mum and stepdad have seen their share of road crashes. But they never expected to be the ones to get this call.

The family of an 18-year-old girl who was tragically killed in a car accident near Bordertown last week have remembered the popular teenager as a “bright, bubbly girl” who was always “happy, cheerful and excited”.

Izzy Hancock’s family — mum Samantha Cottee and her partner Roland Longbottom, as well as dad Tony Hancock and his partner Nikki — were rocked and left in a state of disbelief after hearing their daughter had tragically died just before her 19th birthday.

Ms Cottee and Mr Longbottom are both life members of the CFS and have seen more road crashes “than anyone should”, but had hoped to never be on the other end of that horror.

Izzy Hancock with her younger brothers Albie, Callum and Mason. Picture: Supplied by family - Albie, Callum, Izzy then Mason

Remembering her as a “bright, bubbly girl full of drive”, Ms Cottee said her daughter was an incredibly compassionate human being.

“From the moment she was born she was always happy, cheerful and excited — just such a gorgeous little baby who grew into that smile,” she said.

Izzy Hancock has been remembered as a bright and bubbly girl who was cherished by her loving parents and stepdad. Picture: Supplied by family

Ms Cottee said she was left in a state of disbelief when she first got the call.

“It’s almost like you’re in a bubble — everything’s not real, everything’s in slow motion,” Ms Cottee said.

“Your mum and dad might pass away or your kids’ grandparents might, you expect those sorts of things to happen.

“You don’t expect you would have to bury your 18-year-old child.”

The former Bordertown and Naracoorte high school student was a loved member of the community, with workmate Lilly Potter, 21, describing Izzy as an “overall beautiful” person.

Ms Potter said Izzy had helped her settle into Bordertown after she had moved from Mount Gambier to work on a dairy farm in the area.

Izzy died in a road crash . Picture: Supplied by family

Since her death, the Padthaway, Naracoorte, Bordertown and greater South-East community has wrapped themselves around the distraught family.

Izzy Hancock has been remembered as a bright and bubbly girl who was cherished by her loving parents and stepdad. Picture: Supplied by family

A GoFundMe set up by a friend to help support the family to cover the cost of the funeral has already raised more than $6000.

Mr Longbottom and Ms Cottee said they were staggered by the community’s support.

Though the cause of the accident is still being investigated, the couple say in the wake of Izzy’s death they want to see improved training for young drivers.

Mr Longbottom, a former truck driver, said the current testing standards and training leaves young drivers, particularly those in the regional areas, woefully unprepared.

“They’re not teaching them how to react when you come up against something,” he said.

“Just showing them and telling them — it's not training them is it?”

Mr Longbottom said there needed to be more practical elements included in both training and testing, such as how to manage a car when it aquaplanes and how to emergency brake at higher speeds.

“(Young drivers) don’t experience this sort of thing until they’re out by themselves and it’s too late then,” he said.