A British airman who died in a boating accident in Cyprus as he returned home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan has been remembered by his family as "beautiful, brave and fun-loving".
Senior Aircraftman Scott Hughes, 20, from North Wales, died on Sunday from injuries sustained when he was struck by a powerboat while swimming in the sea on Friday, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The gunner, from 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, was due to return to Britain on Saturday after six months' service in Afghanistan.
Senior Aircraftman Hughes was struck by a boat operated by the Military Training Wing, British Forces Cyprus, said a spokesman for the MoD. An investigation has been launched.
SAC Hughes, who joined the RAF in January 2009, was named top student on a Squadron Mortar Cadre in November 2009.
In Afghanistan, he was employed as top cover on the lead patrol vehicle as well as a signaller on the medical emergency response team helicopter where he helped in the evacuation of casualties.
The MoD said he was relaxing with his friends and colleagues on the island of Cyprus following the tour when he was involved in the fatal accident.
In a statement, SAC Hughes' family, including parents Emma and Michael and younger brother Adam, said: "Our beautiful, brave, fun-loving son has been cruelly taken away from us, but we know that Scott fulfilled his dreams by serving his regiment and his country.
"Words cannot express the loss we as a family are feeling at this time and a huge void will be in our lives without Scott forever more."
