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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Elizabeth Thomas & Benjamin Lynch

Brit drowns while swimming in sea off Canary Islands day before 30th birthday

A British tourist has died in the Canary Islands only a day before his 30th birthday in a tragic drowning.

Nicholas Desmond, 29, from Cardiff had only been in Tenerife for a few hours when he got into difficulty swimming in the sea on July 29, Wales Online reports.

At Callao Salvaje, he was rescued but showed signs of drowning and medics were unable to save him after he was flown to Adeje and taken to the hospital by ambulance.

In a heartbreaking tribute, a friend of Nicholas said he was "very bubbly and outgoing and "always had a helping hand for everybody."

Sacha Pugsley said to Wales Online: "He would literally walk the world for me if he could. He was always happy, always bubbly. I don't think I'd ever seen a time where he was upset. He'd never bring anybody down."

Tributes were paid in Cardiff by balloon on the day of Nicky's birthday (Sacha Pugsley/MEDIA WALES)
Nicky was rescued but it was too late for medics to save him (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

She also said: "Every parent's greatest fear is the loss of their child. It happened so suddenly and I know nothing will ever fill the void in their hearts.

"He was such a beautiful soul, a brother, a son loved by all that met him, [he] has left us too soon."

Sacha, 29, has set up a fundraising page in partnership with Reparation Services Trust (REST) to try and bring 'Nicky' back home to Wales.

The Go Fund Me page has so far raised over £4,000 (WALES NEWS SERVICE)
The family are working with a charity to bring his body home (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

A balloon release was made in Nicky's home of Gabalfa in the north of Cardiff on the day of his 30th birthday on July 30.

The Go Fund Me page reads: "On the day of 29th July we lost our Nicky after he was rescued from the sea in [the] south of Tenerife.

"The night before 30th birthday our boy was taken from us sent to fly his wings, the tragic accident had left a mark on us all I want to raise as much I can to bring him back from Spain and lay him to rest at home [where] he belongs."

Friends of the family issued pleas to for people to donate to the fund (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

The family are hoping to raise £10,000.

"Our beloved friends & The Gabalfa community have suffered a significant loss with the recent passing of their precious friend Nicky.

"While we cannot take away their pain, we can help this loving family with the many financial burdens they now face. Please consider donating as they lay their son to rest and take the time away to grieve."

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