A man who died after being found unconscious in a boating lake has been named locally as Paul Hughes.

Firefighters, paramedics, and police officers from the dog unit were called to the Conningbrook Lakes in Ashford in the early hours of Sunday morning.

They pulled the 42-year-old Spurs football supporter from the water unconscious and was given CPR before being taken to the William Harvey Hospital nearby.

His death has been met with shock from his friends on Facebook.

Tony Hogben posted: “Life’s too short, remember what you’ve got and who you have, hold it all close and don't take it for granted. R.I.P Paul Hughes you’re going to be missed bro.”

Carla Seddon wrote: “At times it felt like nothing ever went right for you, you deserved so much because you were such an amazing, caring good person. I can't believe you're gone, R.I.P Paul Hughes.”

A police spokesman said: "Police were called to concerns for the welfare of a man near Conningbrook Lake, off Willesborough Road in Ashford, at 1.11am on Sunday, September 11.

"Officers attended the scene, as did crews from the ambulance service, and a man’s body was recovered from the lake.

"The man, who was in his 40s and from the Ashford area, was taken to a local hospital where he has pronounced dead.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and officers will prepare a report for the coroner."

Fire crews had used a thermal imaging camera to scan the shore but later entered the water in wetsuits to reach Mr Hughes.