Parents of Chris Rhead wait for answers after he drowned on holiday in Spain
THE parents of a man who drowned off the coast of Spain are still waiting to find out exactly what happened a month after his death.
The body of father-of-three Chris Rhead was found on a beach in northern Spain where he had been enjoying a holiday.
The 47-year-old karate enthusiast had been on a week-long adventure break with a friend when he got into difficulty in the sea after becoming caught in a riptide.
He had been staying at a campsite near Santander when he died on August 15.
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Now Chris's body has been flown back to Britain ahead of his funeral next week. An inquest is due to be held next year.
Mum Muriel, a 72-year-old retired machinist, of Cranberry Lane, Alsager said: "We are shattered by the death. Chris was a fun-loving man, who loved his children and loved the outdoors."
Engineer Chris was a black belt in karate and had taught at the Alsager Shotokan Karate Club.
He was brought up in Alsager and lived in Winston Avenue, where he raised his three children Thomas, aged 21, Alexandra, aged 18, and Adele, aged 14.
Muriel added: "He was always very adventurous as a child and used to go rock climbing.
"Chris loved the mountains and would often take his children camping.
"His family were the most important thing in his life.
"There is a feeling of helplessness because he died abroad and it has been difficult to find out information.
"Chris was a very kind and caring son, he worked very hard for his family and he will be sorely missed by all his friends."
A post-mortem examination was carried out in Spain before Chris's body was flown home.
Dad Alan, aged 82, a retired school teacher, said: "We still don't know the exact details of how he died, or the circumstances. It could be next year before we find out. He was a very keen swimmer and as a boy he could swim up to three miles."
Chris's funeral will be held at St Mary's Church, in Alsager, at 12pm, on Thursday.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national, Christopher John Rhead, on August 15, in Cantabria, Spain. We provided consular assistance to the family."
To pay your respects to Chris, email tributes@thesentinel.co.uk
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