TRIBUTES have been paid to a “loving” father-of-six from the Llyn Peninsula who was killed on Father’s Day whilst swimming in the sea on holiday in Malta.

Shopkeeper Allan Stanley from Ceidio, near Nefyn, is believed to have been hit by a boat’s propeller at Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay in Qala, Gozo, on Sunday.

The 76-year-old was holidaying with his wife, Diane, 69, who witnessed the tragic incident from the beach.

Speaking to the Cambrian News, Allan’s son, Russell Stanley, who lives in Trefor, described his father as ‘very hardworking’ this week and said: “Even after what’s happened I know he’d tell me not to mope around and go back to work.

“His death has come as a hell of shock. It’s tragic that it happened on Father’s Day, I tried to ring him that morning but he must have already gone to the beach.

“We are all absolutely devastated, we will miss him dearly.”

Granddaughter Hannah Louise Stanley added: “My grandad was a very positive man, I have never seen him without a smile on his face.

“As a person he was kind, funny and generally a happy-go-lucky person. He was happy as long as his family were happy.”

The couple’s close friend, Maxine Nelson, described the news as “devastating”.

She said: “It is so tragic what has happened to Allan.

“He absolutely loved the sea and swimming and snorkelling was something he loved to do when he went out to Malta.

“Allan and Diane have been going to Gozo for years as they rent a house there, they absolutely love it.”

See the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian News