Tributes to drowned Weston-super-Mare friends

The former girlfriend of Lee Tompkins, who died after being swept out to sea while swimming off Weston-super-Mare, has paid tribute to him as a loving father.

Amy Elliott, aged 25, of Mead Vale, Weston, was in a relationship with Lee, 33, for three-and-a-half years and was the mother of one of his four sons, Finley, aged 19 months.

It was officially confirmed yesterday that a body found off Barry in South Wales was that of Lee, as inquests into his death and that of his friend Dave Ellams, 35, were opened and adjourned.

Dave's family and friends have also paid further tribute to him.

Lee, a carpenter by trade, was temporarily working at the Anchor Head Hotel.

He and Dave disappeared on June 23 after they went swimming in the sea off rocks near to Birnbeck Island.

Dave's body was found first at Clevedon Bay on Tuesday and within hours Lee's was found on the other side of the Bristol channel.

Amy said the couple had split up only recently and she had been nominated as Lee's next of kin, as he had no contact with his family.

She said: "It has been a devastating time.

"We were together for three-and-a-half years and had our son Finley but recently we went through a painful break-up.

"Lee also had three other sons from a previous relationship, who also live in Weston and although he had no contact, he spoke about them all the time and loved them as much as he loved Finley and my six-year-old daughter Sky.

"Finley doesn't know what's happened, which makes me sad but also glad, as he does not have to go through this pain.

"Sky has been frightened by it all, she doesn't really understand."

Family and friends of Dave Ellams say they are deeply saddened and shocked by the death of the 35-year-old, who was head chef at Daunceys Hotel in the town.

Funeral arrangements are now under way and Dave's family say they will give him a proper send off on July 10, at Weston Crematorium, at 3pm.

His girlfriend of three years, Aimee Crisp, 19, said: "Dave loved children and always wanted his own; we even spoke about it just before he died.

"He was a loving and caring and liked a drink like the next bloke, as well as playing pool and table tennis and supporting Liverpool FC avidly.

"He worked as a chef and it was quite funny really, as he was the only chef I know that was allergic to food.

"He loved going down on the rocks and going into the sea and in a way I'm glad he died doing something he loved doing.

"I'm still shell shocked what what's happened but I want to thank all the emergency teams who tried to help and for finding Dave."

Dave's sister, Louise Ellams, 36, of Blackpool, is also devastated by her younger brother's death and struggled to find the words to pay tribute to him.

She said: "I loved him very much, he was my baby brother. I am still in shock by what's happened and Dad is in bits.

"He was very thoughtful towards me and his mum and dad. He was a loving child but I had lost contact with him in later years.

"He was energetic and sporty, like his big sis really.

"I'm devastated and will miss him so much and I want him to know I will love him forever."

Dave's family request no flowers at his funeral and have asked for donations to be made instead to the RNLI.