The heartbroken family of a popular 20-year-old have described him as a “kind and gentle soul” following his death in a holiday tragedy.

Tributes have poured in to Felix Lewis since he died on a Croatian beach after being pulled from the sea by his parents.

Desperate efforts were made in vain to resuscitate the fashion student, who was from Whitstable and had worked at Ruskin Clothing in Harbour Street.

His mum, Diana, dad, Ben, and brother, Théo, have paid a touching tribute to Felix.

“He was our beautiful boy,” they said. “He was a kind, loving, gentle soul who had time for everyone.

“He was full of life, studying fashion at Manchester Uni, surrounded by so many friends and a girlfriend he loved.

“He has been taken from us far too early and we mourn the life he should have lived. There is a Felix-sized hole in our family which will never mend. We love you and miss you.”

Felix had been on holiday with his family when tragedy struck last Monday, when he was spotted unresponsive in the water.

Diana said: “He dived into the sea and me and his father had to drag him out. Resuscitation was performed on the beach but he couldn’t be saved.

“There was no sign of him bumping his head.

“The locals were fantastic. They helped with resuscitation before paramedics arrived.

“It had been a perfect holiday - he had the happiest couple of days. We went paddleboarding in the morning, we had lunch and then were going to enjoy an afternoon on the beach.”

Felix was a popular character in Whitstable, where he had previously held a part-time job at Ruskin, which is owned by his aunt and uncle, Shelly and Garrie Keeys.

“He was the best friend and boyfriend I could ever imagine or have the privilege of knowing..." Rachel Crowley

Shelly said: “We are an extremely close family and watching Felix grow into the gorgeous young man that he was has been a privilege. He was kind, funny, loving and talented, and his loss is unbearable.

“I last saw him the evening before his holiday. We were sitting on the beach hut chatting and that image of his smiling face is the one that I hold onto. We love you Felix.”

Garrie added: “He was much-loved by all of Ruskin’s customers who had the pleasure of being served by him. They always commented what a chatty and happy person he was. He had a brilliant eye for fashion and he loved to help our customers find exactly what suited them best.

“He was embedded in our community and his loss is incalculable.”

Felix studied at the Archbishop’s School and UCA, both in Canterbury, before starting a fashion degree at the University of Manchester.

His girlfriend, Rachel Crowley, said: “He was the best friend and boyfriend I could ever imagine or have the privilege of knowing.

“He was so talented and is so loved by everyone who ever met him. He has shown me what true love is, and I feel blessed to have ever been able to call him mine.

“I will love him forever. I already miss his laugh and his smile and just being able to hear his voice, but I know he is still with us in the sunshine and in the sea, everywhere.

“He is my everything and he is heaven personified.”

Another uncle, Barry Willis, added: “We must use the memory of this kind and gentle soul to project a light into our hearts, and by living our lives to the fullest, we best celebrate the life of this talented and positive young man.”

"There is a Felix-sized hole in our family which will never mend..."

Chloe Pickett, who met Felix four years ago at UCA, said: “Felix really was one of a kind. There are not enough words to describe such a beautiful, funny but most importantly talented person. He was such an inspiration to everybody and would’ve been so successful in the future.”

The cause of Felix’s death remains unknown.

A post-mortem examination was carried out in Croatia, with a second due to take place in the UK in the coming days.

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