Race Across the World star Sam Gardiner has died aged 24 following a car crash in Stockport. The former BBC show contestant died after his car came off the road on the A34 in Cheadle and flipped onto its side on Monday. Sam had been working in Scotland and travelled to Stockport to attend a family birthday celebration earlier in the week, his uncle has said. The landscape gardener appeared on the BBC travel show alongside his mum Jo. They trekked across South America in the second series of Race Across the World that aired in 2020. In an emotional tribute, Sam's parents Jo and Andrew said they were "devastated". "Sam left us far too soon, and while words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special," they said. Sam's parents said he was "adored by his family" and described him as "loyal, funny and fiercely protective". They added his time on the BBC show "opened Sam's eyes to the wonder of adventure". Sam and mum Jo were unable to compete in the final leg of the race after they ran out of money. However, Sam had described his time on Race Across the World as a "life-changing" experience. In a statement at the time, police said: "Emergency services attended the scene and the driver, 24-year-old man, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious and life-threatening condition. Initial enquiries suggest that the car, a white VW Golf R estate, was travelling north on the A34 in Gatley and officers believe that the vehicle went off the carriageway and rolled before landing on its side." Following the devastating news, a Race Across the World spokesperson said: "Everyone who worked with him and indeed everyone who watched Sam could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum, Jo. Sam embraced the seven-week trip with an energy, love and a determination that saw the pair enjoy adventures across Mexico to Argentina making audiences fall in love with them and their special bond as a result. "Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends."