Tributes have been paid to an "amazing" and "cheeky" rugby player who drowned in a hotel swimming pool on a family holiday in Cyprus. Amateur rugby league player Ben Woods was staying in Paphos, on the Southwest coast of the Mediterranean island, when tragedy struck on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old, from Leigh, near Wigan, was reportedly pulled out of the swimming pool at King Evelthon Hotel, but could not be revived and later passed away. Following his death, “devastated” friends and family described the keen sportsman as an “absolute legend” and their “hero”.
His grief-stricken brother, Josh Woods, who plays for professional rugby league side Newcastle Thunder in the Championship, a division below the sport's top flight, said he wished he was just experiencing a “nightmare”.
