The grieving parents of an English butcher have spoken for the first time about the accident that claimed their son's life.

Keen swimmer Allan David Cosgrove, 30, died late last Sunday afternoon, September 21, while swimming off Five Star Island in Southampton.

His father, also Allan, and mother, Llynwen, who live near Beccles quay in, Suffolk, England, paid tribute to their "globetrotter" son.

Mrs. Cosgrove said he was the fourth family member the couple had lost in the last year.

"Before we heard about the accident, I thought nothing worse could come, but it did," she said.

"He was so fun-loving, always full of laughter and life. He didn't have a mean streak in his body and loved everybody and everything.

"We were sorting through one of his drawers earlier and it just summed him up.

"It was full of things from joke shops. He was always playing tricks on people. He really enjoyed life.

"Unless you're a parent, I don't think you know how much it can hurt."

His father added: "He liked to travel. His sister, Ellsa, was the same. They had fun together and used to go shopping together."

Mr. Cosgrove became an apprentice at a Beccles butcher and spent time in Holland and Australia before landing the three-year contract to work as a butcher at White and Son's supermarket in Warwick last November.

The former sea cadet was last seen by a neighbour at 4.30 p.m. on that fateful Sunday when he ventured down to the water near his home on Middle Road for a swim.

However, they became concerned when he did not return by 6 p.m., and went to check on him.

It is believed his landlady's teenage daughter found his body floating near to the shoreline.

Attempts to revive him failed and Mr. Cosgrove was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

His funeral details are still to be arranged and it is understood there will also be a private memorial service here for his close friends.