Tributes have been paid to an Essex woman killed in a crash during a dog rescue trip in Romania.
Rachael Harvey-Purkiss died alongside Northamptonshire resident Allison Condon, and reportedly eight rescue dogs, in the accident on Thursday, September 24, while transporting a group of dogs to a new home in France.
A GoFundMe page set up to support Rachael’s husband has raised more than £4,200 of its £6,000 target.
A post on the page reads: "Rachael was doing what she cared so deeply about - rescuing dogs and giving them a chance of a better life.
"She was a remarkable, kind, and incredibly compassionate person who dedicated so much of herself to helping animals, her community, and being an enthusiastic litter picker in our group."
Rachael played football for Broomfield Women’s FC, who paid tribute to her in a Facebook post.
The club said: "Rachael was just a wonderful person to be around – kind, passionate, and always ready to make you laugh with her brilliant sense of humour.
"She was a proper teammate and a true friend on and off the pitch.
"She was a familiar face throughout the Essex women’s football community, playing everything from 11-a-side to walking football."
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Chelmsford Litter Wombles, the litter-picking group she volunteered with, also paid tribute.
The group said: "We were all so shocked and saddened to hear that one of our dedicated volunteers, Rachael Harvey-Purkiss, tragically lost her life this week.
"Rachael joined our group in May 2024 and very quickly became one of our regular and hardworking pickers.
"She was a real trooper – never afraid of hard work and always on the hunt for a grot spot that needed tackling.
"But perhaps what stood out most about Rachael was her huge heart."
Rachael was remembered as a caring and committed individual who made a lasting impact on everyone she met.
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