TRAGIC Tyrone hurling star Damian Casey's remains are not expected to return to Ireland for a week.
The 29-year-old died suddenly on Friday while attending the wedding of a friend in the Spanish resort of Alicante.
It is understood he collapsed at a swimming pool, although the cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.
At a vigil at the Spanish resort on Sunday a friend thanked everyone who had tried to revive Mr Casey but said "it was too late".
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust is helping the Casey family with arrangements to bring Mr Casey home.
However, this cannot be done until the Spanish authorities complete all their formalities, including the results of a post-mortem.
It is understood that all the arrangements, including booking flights, cannot be completed for around a week.
Mr Casey had flown to Spain to attend the wedding of his friend and fellow Dungannon man Ben McQuaid.
He was due to be a groomsman at the wedding which was cancelled.
Mr McQuaid's brother Karl thanked everyone who had tried to revive Mr Casey, who he described as being "in the prime of his life".
"He was a fantastic wonderful man, a kind-hearted gentleman, a wonderful brother, son, friend, employee," he told members of the wedding party at a vigil on Sunday.
"We as a family are utterly devastated by Damian's tragic and sudden passing. We did our very best to try and save Damian but it was too late," he said.
"We all think the world of him and we're going to look after him until we can get him home. We're doing our utmost to do that as soon as possible."
Mr Casey was regarded as the most talented hurler of his generation in Tyrone.
He played for Eoghan Ruadh GAA club in Dungannon and the Tyrone senior hurling team.
He was instrumental in helping Tyrone lift the Nicky Rackard Cup last month.
A vigil in Mr Casey's memory was held at Eoghan Ruadh on Sunday night.
A statement read on behalf of Mr Casey's family at the Eoghan Ruadh pitch said: "Our hearts are broken.
"Words cannot express how devastating news of Damian's death has been.
"We thank everyone for the support we are receiving from the local community and across the country.
"We ask that everyone avoids idle speculation and that we as a family are given time and space to process what has happened."
