Ben Woods, a 21-year-old rugby player, has been identified as the victim who perished in a hotel swimming pool while on vacation in Cyprus.
At the King Evelthon Hotel in Paphos, the young man from Leigh, Wigan, was discovered unconscious near the pool on Tuesday.
He was hauled out of the water by guests, and shortly after, in Paphos General Hospital’s intensive care unit, he passed away.
Woods’ family described him as a “bright young man” who will be “deeply missed,” and tributes have poured in.
Ben was the heart and soul of every party, according to his aunt Joanne Bennet, who said of him: “Ben would simply come into a room and it’d just [light] up.”
When Ben was discovered, he and his dad were on vacation in Cyprus.
She continued, “We are going to miss him, we just can’t believe what happened,” claiming his mother is too traumatized to speak.
We’re shocked that it’s a 21-year-old. Simply put, we don’t believe it.
On social media, a friend of Ben’s wrote: “Really am lost for words, what a cruel world we live in RIP to one of the most genuine, caring, and realist boys you’ll ever meet Ben Woods you’ll be well and deeply missed by us all.”
Ben Woods was one of our young Open Age players who passed away after an accident while on vacation with his family, according to a statement from Leigh East Rugby Club, where he had played since he was a small lad.
Ben began playing at Leigh East at a very young age and developed through the age groups to become an important team player. Ben was often present and will be greatly missed for his mischievous smile.
“In this most difficult of times, our thoughts and condolences are with Mick, Mel, Josh, his family, and friends.”
You will never be forgotten, young man, RIP.
‘On behalf of everyone at the club, we express our most profound condolences to the family and friends of Ben Woods, brother of our former player Josh, on their awful loss,’ said Mike Latham, chairman of Leigh Centurions, of which Ben was a previous member.
We are all thinking of you and praying for you.
According to a witness, lifeguards only realized the victim was unresponsive after an entertainer yelled at them that the man had been dragged out of the pool. Guests anxiously attempted to revive the man with CPR.
The lifeguards were seated too far away from where the body was discovered, according to one witness who saw the incident.
They wouldn’t be able to see what was going on from where they were sitting because it was more than 100 meters away, he claimed. They were just two young men, perhaps in their early 20s, and didn’t appear prepared for the task.
The man was eventually given CPR by the lifeguards, who then attempted to revive him at the pool’s edge as they waited for an ambulance.
Ben was taken by ambulance to Paphos General Hospital when he was unable to regain consciousness.
At 9 o’clock on Tuesday night, he was declared dead after being intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit.
The family of a British national who passed away in Cyprus is receiving consular support, according to a Foreign Office official.
Although they are still looking into the incident, the police have ruled out any illegal conduct.