The "kind, wise and intelligent" son of Senedd member Carolyn Thomas has died. Mrs Thomas is "sad beyond words" at the loss of her "wonderful" son Ben, her office said in a Twitter statement.
The North Wales MS' office shared tributes from her son's loved ones. One said: "Ben was a highly intelligent, skilled and brilliant young man, full of life, determination and focus, most thoughtful and considerate of others. It was a pleasure and joy to have shared the experiences and times I had in his company."
Another said: "Ben was a kind, wise and intelligent man who was in his element in the great outdoors. He loved climbing, training to be a mountain leader and met his girlfriend when becoming a Duke of Edinburgh Young Leader. He was a creative, brilliant trombone player."
"It was a privilege to have been his friend and to have had him as a friend to me," read another tribute. "He truly was an amazing man. So wise, so kind. I thought so highly of him, as did so many others."
Mrs Thomas' office asked that the family's privacy be respected and that they be given "all the time and space they need". The Labour politician, 57, was elected to represent North Wales in 2021.
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