A British holidaymaker has died in a Tenerife diving tragedy while celebrating his 32nd wedding anniversary with his wife.
"Top bloke" Andrew Littler, from Coalville, Leicester, got into difficulties during a dive off the Spanish island’s coast on Valentine’s Day .
He tragically died at the scene after reportedly going into cardiac arrest .
The 53-year-old, who had been "doing something he loved and enjoyed", had been due to go for a Valentine’s meal with his wife that evening.
Heartbroken pals are now raising money to help repatriate his body, as the tragedy remains under investigation by a local court.
Andrew is understood to have worked as a transporter driver, but was a well-known DJ in his home area. His wife, Lesley, is still in Tenerife.
Desperate attempts were made to revive the holidaymaker on a pier in the quiet south-eastern holiday resort of Abades after he got into trouble.
But sadly, the efforts proved unsuccessful and he was declared dead at the scene.
A GoFundMe appeal has now been launched to help repatriate him.
Close friend David Granger, also from Coalville, said: “It is with great sadness that I have to say Andrew Littler who ran Black Night disco around the area for many years has passed away while on holiday.
“He was celebrating his wedding anniversary in Tenerife with his wife of 32 years."
David said Andrew died on Valentine’s Day and would be "greatly missed".
He continued: "A GoFundMe page has been set up by his work colleagues to help repatriate Andrew home where he belongs so his family can give him a final farewell."
“Andrew was a true friend of mine for more than 30 years. He’s helped me a fair few times. He will be greatly and sadly missed."
Friends and colleagues of Andrew have so far raised more than £2,000.
Pal Andrew Toher said: “So shocked to hear the news. He was a top bloke that would do anything to help. Thoughts and prayers to Lesley and the family."
Another devastated friend added: “Andy was more like a brother to me rather than a friend. He was always there when the going got tough.
“I can say I was proud to be your brother We were friends for over 24 years. What a sad loss. He will be missed.”
Andrew was rushed to shore around 4pm local time last Thursday – hours before the planned Valentine’s Day meal with his partner.
A spokesman for a regional government emergency response coordination centre confirmed at the time: “A 53-year-old diver of British origin has died on the Tenerife coast.
“The alarm was raised around 3.50pm.
"An air ambulance and two land ambulances were mobilised along with police and Civil Guard after a local emergency coordination centre took a call to say a diver who needed urgent medical attention was being transferred to land
“A medical coordinator from the Canary Islands Emergency Service came to the conclusion the patient had gone into cardiac arrest during the call and advised the caller how to practice CPR to try to revive him until expert help arrived.
“The medical experts confirmed he was still in cardiac arrest when they arrived and tried to revive him themselves without obtaining a positive result.
“He was confirmed dead at the scene.
"Local police helped the air ambulance land on a pier in the area of Abades and cooperated with the rest of the emergency response teams.
“Civil Guard looked after the body until court officials arrived.”
The alarm was raised by a monitor Andrew was with.
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