THE sister of a Co Armagh man who died in a suspected weekend drowning incident in Thailand said he had been “living his best life”.
Odhran O’Neill (22) from Lurgan had been visiting Khao Sok National Park on Saturday.
A missing person appeal was initially launched by his family after he went missing in a body of water at the nature reserve in southern Thailand.
His younger sister Michaela said the 22-year-old was last seen kayaking in the lake when the boat capsized on Saturday afternoon.
But the appeal sadly ended when she confirmed the Lurgan man’s body was recovered on Sunday.
“Odhran’s life has been cut short and far too early,” she wrote on social media.
“He was out seeing the world and living his best life…what we all have wanted for him.
“He will be remembered as a strong, charming and all around the best boy,” she added.
“Thank you to everyone has shared and we appreciate all the effort but he is now with the angels I love you forever big bro. Forever in my heart.”
Information shared on social media from a charity operating a rescue centre at the location, said Mr O’Neill had been in a reservoir at the Rajjaprabha Dam with friends when he entered the water.
It is understood the 22-year-old had told his friends he intended swimming back to the shore.
The alarm was raised around two hours later when his friends came looking for the Lurgan man and could not locate him on dry land.
The authorities were then contacted and a search was launched in the water and the immediate shore area.
Mr O’Neill’s remains were located some hours later.
In a tribute on its Facebook page, the Clann Éireann GAA club in Lurgan said: “Thank you to everyone who assisted the search efforts by sharing.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the O’Neill, O’Dowd and McVeigh families at this very difficult time.
“Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí ar a anam dílis.”