When tragedy strikes, it often silences those at its center.
But for John Hunt—the BBC horse racing commentator whose world was shattered in July 2024—silence was never an option.
In his first public interview since losing his wife Carol and daughters Louise and Hannah in a horrific attack, John sat beside his surviving daughter Amy and spoke through tears, grief, and unshakeable love.
His words weren’t just about loss—they were about legacy, courage, and the enduring power of love.
Louise’s Love Remembered with Heartbreaking Pride
Louise Hunt had ended her relationship with Kyle Clifford not long before he took the lives of her, her sister Hannah, and their mother Carol.
Despite everything, John says he’s proud of how deeply and wholeheartedly Louise had loved—even when it went unreciprocated.
John read aloud a passage from a TikTok video Louise had shared after the breakup, where she talked about not being embarrassed for loving someone deeply.
The words, though not originally hers, captured the very spirit of how she lived.
“I’m proud of her for living like that and loving like that,” he said, pausing frequently, overcome with emotion.
Hannah’s Final Act of Bravery Saved Her Father’s Life
In the final moments of her life, Hannah showed a level of courage that even seasoned detectives struggled to comprehend.
As she lay fatally wounded, she managed to call emergency services and text her boyfriend, identifying Clifford as the attacker and effectively alerting authorities.
John was in London at the time, and he firmly believes that her quick thinking saved his life.
“I said it in court, and I’ve said it many times—Hannah gave me life.
It was a gift from her,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“I get to live, and I ground myself in that every day.”
Amy and John Share Memories of a Life Once Full
Amy, the only surviving daughter, joined her father for the interview and shared fond memories of the close-knit family they once were.
Just two months before the murders, the three sisters had gone out for sushi together.
“We were talking about how lucky we’d been,” she recalled.
“To have the parents we had, the life we had.”
Her father echoed that sentiment, remembering Hannah bursting through the door after dinner, exclaiming how fortunate they all were.
That moment now lives on as a beautiful snapshot of a family that loved deeply and appreciated every day they had together.
Living with Loss, One Day at a Time
John still lives in the house where the tragedy happened—where he talks to Carol, Louise, and Hannah every day.
“From the moment I wake up, I say good morning to each of them,” he said.
“At night, I say goodnight. They’re with me all the time.”
Despite the pain, he is grounded by the love he shared with them.
Returning to work just 60 days after the attack, John called a race in Brighton, quietly beginning to rebuild a life shattered by grief.
The Man Behind the Microphone
Those who know John Hunt describe him as the epitome of humility and compassion—a man who lived for his family and loved talking about them.
Friends and colleagues in the horse racing world speak of their heartbreak and admiration for how he has carried on.
“He was always asking about other people’s kids.
He lived for his own,” said one colleague.
“He’s the bravest man I know. And when he calls a race, it feels like a friend is talking to you.”
Racecourses across the UK have rallied around him.
At Newmarket, a minute’s silence was held in memory of Carol, Hannah, and Louise—a moment that captured just how deeply loved the family is within the racing community.
Clifford’s Crimes and Sentence
Kyle Clifford had been dumped by Louise shortly before committing the brutal attack in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9, 2024.
Using a crossbow and other weapons, he murdered Carol, 61, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25.
Amy was not at the home during the attack and survived.
Clifford, now sentenced to life in prison with no chance of release, refused to appear in court for sentencing.
The judge described the killings as bringing “devastation on an unimaginable scale.”
A Family Man, Forever Changed But Never Broken
John Hunt’s friends describe him as the best of men—a gifted broadcaster, a devoted father, and a quiet force of strength.
“He used to chat about his daughters and his beloved West Ham,” one colleague said. “Now, he walks the racecourse quietly.
But he’s still doing the job, still showing up. And we respect him for that more than ever.”
In January, he shared a birthday message for Amy, praising her resilience and beauty through the darkest of years.
His focus now is on making her life just a little easier—and ensuring that the memory of Carol, Hannah, and Louise continues to shine.
Turning Pain into Purpose
In the face of the unthinkable, John Hunt is choosing to speak, to work, and to love.
He encourages others to cherish every moment, a message that resonates even more deeply knowing what he’s endured.
“The love they gave me, the love I still feel—it’s what keeps me going,” he said.
Through heartbreak, John Hunt stands as a symbol of resilience.
And through his words, the voices of Carol, Louise, and Hannah continue to echo.