TRIBUTES have been paid to a Stratford man who drowned trying to rescue his dog while on holiday in Cornwall.
Trevor Priest, who was in his 60s, and a member of Stratford Rugby Club, was holidaying with his family when the tragedy happened.
The family dog Alfie – a young golden retriever – is understood to have fallen from cliffs in Tintagel.
Retired Land Rover employee Mr Priest went to see if he could help his dog but slipped into the sea below.
Emergency services including Port Isaac lifeboat, coastguards and the air ambulance were called to the scene on Tuesday September 27 around 1pm.
Mr Priest was winched up the cliff and flown to hospital but could not be saved.
He is survived by his wife Gill, daughter Megan and son Nick.
His beloved dog also died in the tragedy.
Mr Priest is the ninth person to lose their life off the Cornish coast this year.
A spokesman for Port Isaac lifeboat said: “Port Isaac lifeboat was tasked to reports of a person and dog in trouble in the water.
“The lifeboat arrived on scene just after the coastguard helicopter.
“The helicopter located the casualty and winched him on board.
“The dog was recovered by the lifeboat and taken back to Port Isaac.”
Friends and family of Mr Priest took to social media to pay tribute.
Mr Priest’s nephew Roy Freer said: “You won’t find anyone with a bad word to say about Uncle Trev. That’s because all he was, was positive, an amazing and loving husband, a devoted and brilliant father, a caring and fantastic uncle, a respected and appreciated workmate, a talented and fun teammate. He was loved by everyone he knew and to lose him this way feels like robbery.”
Tony Williams Vince added: “When it comes to Trevor there are only good things to say about him. The world has lost a good good man.”
And Joe Richardson said: “Such a genuinely top bloke, a blessing to have had you as a neighbour Trevor. Taken too soon but lived more than most people would in 200 years. Never failed to make me smile… Sitting in the garden won’t be the same without hearing you singing away to yourself.”
