A sister has paid tribute to the "best brother ever" after he died from drowning.
Haydn Griffiths, from Lowton, was reported missing after going swimming in the River Mersey on July 19 2022 - one of the hottest days of the year. The 23-year-old's body was found by an RNLI crew in the water near Crosby five days later.
As the first anniversary of his death approaches, Haydn's sister Megan Griffiths paid tribute to her brother. She described him as someone who "lived life to the fullest" and always cared for others.
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Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "Haydn was incredible. He was so intelligent and caring and athletic. He was so in tune with his own body and trying to help others become more in tune with theirs and to get outside and not be scared of themselves and enjoying themselves and doing hard things.
Added: "He lived his life to the fullest, he really did. He was the best brother we could have asked for. We were all so, so close. We still are so close."
Megan said her family have struggled since Haydn's death but have focused on keeping his memory alive and raising awareness of water safety. World Drowning Prevention Day also falls on July 25, a day after Haydn died.
She told the ECHO: "We thought what a coincidence and we thought they made it up, but it's real and we think it has happened at that time for a reason because Haydn was just so amazing. I feel like his passing, at that time in those circumstances will hopefully raise more awareness to other people.
"Us dealing with it, sometimes I wish it wasn't real because he worked away at sea, it sometimes feels like he has just gone to work and is going to come back. We know he isn't going to come back.
"We have to power on and we feel so grateful for all the support that we have had, especially from the emergency services the coastguard and RNLI - they were just incredible with us.
"The response from the community just made us feel so loved and supported. People could have gone against us and it could have gone a really like negative story but it brought people together."
Haydn's other sister Brogan has been taking part in the RNLI's Mayday Mile challenge, where people walk a mile a day to raise awareness and funds for the charity.
Megan added: "She's doing it and getting out whether it is pouring down with rain or windy but she is getting out and doing that mile a day. She's showing you can do if you put your mind to it, even if it is challenging.
"Haydn would have loved it because he wanted people to be active and outdoors and not sat on their bums, watching TV and eating McDonald's. It is really nice that the RNLI do it every year. It is one of their fundraisers every year."
Haydn had attended the beach at Derby Pool, New Brighton, with a female friend at 6.50pm on July 19, when temperatures across the UK soared to more than 26C.
The pair decided to swim out to the offshore windmills, and were within 500m to 800m of the turbines when they became tired and decided to return to shore.
At 9.30pm, Haydn, who was a marine engineer and qualified sailing instructor trained in advanced open water diving, told his friend he was suffering from cramp and severe tiredness. She tried to encourage him to keep swimming, but he was too exhausted, and they agreed she should swim to shore without him and get help.
She swam for another hour, "during which time she could still hear Haydn, because he was shouting for help." However, by the time she reached the beach three miles away, Haydn had disappeared in the water.
A huge search was launched by the Coastguard, RNLI, and police and fire services, but was called off at around 5pm on July 20 after 18 hours. Shortly before 8pm on July 24, Haydn's body was found by the RNLI in the water off Crosby, and was taken to Pier Head, Liverpool, where his identity was confirmed.
At an inquest last year into Haydn's death, a post-mortem found the cause of death was drowning.
The family post updates on fundraising and water safety awareness on a Facebook page, which was set up in memory of the sailor, called Stay Safe for Haydn. To follow please click here.
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