This is Leicestershire -- Tributes have been paid to hero dad Andrew Priestley, who died saving his two sons from drowning in Australia. The 44-year-old died in hospital after getting into difficulty at beauty spot Burrill Beach, about 140 miles south of Sydney, on Friday. It is understood his widow, Amanda, and children Matthew, Daniel and Amelia have flown back to the UK and are now staying with relatives. Mr Priestley, of Market Harborough, worked as a sales and marketing director for Nottingham company I Holland, which produces tablet-making machinery. Ccompany managing director Chris Prideaux today paid tribute, saying: "It is with great sadness that we have received the news of our colleague Andrew's tragic death. "He was first and foremost a devoted husband and father, a family man through and through. For those of us privileged enough to know him, it came as no surprise that he would surrender his own life in the act of saving his sons. "Whatever our feelings of loss at I Holland, they cannot begin to compare with the suffering and loss being felt by his family. "The company will be doing all it can to support his wife, Amanda, and his family at this terrible time. They are in our thoughts and have our heartfelt condolences and sympathies." Mr Priestley and his sons, Matthew, 12, and Daniel, 10, were in the water when the boys got caught in rip currents - fast-flowing channels that drag people away from land and into deep water. Mr Priestley rushed to help the boys and managed to keep them afloat long enough for onlookers to pull them to safety. However, he was overcome in the water, and died in hospital later on. The community in Market Harborough is now trying to come to terms with the tragedy. Pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Voluntary Academy, where Daniel and Amelia, eight, went to school, said prayers in assembly earlier today. A mass is due to be held at the nearby church later this week. Headteacher Karen McVea said: "We are respecting the wishes of the family at this time. "We have said prayers for them and are keeping them in our thoughts." The family are regular worshippers at Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic church, in Market Harborough. Parish priest Canon Owen O'Neill broke the news of Mr Priestley's death to the congregation at a service on Saturday evening. A family friend, who did not want to be named, said the tragedy had shocked and saddened residents in Market Harborough. "They are such active members of the community," the friend said. "They truly are a friendly, gentle and wonderful family. "When they return to Market Harborough they will receive our full support." A report on Mr Priestley's death is being prepared for the coroner by New South Wales police.
Reported by This is 3 hours ago.
This is Leicestershire -- Tributes have been paid to hero dad Andrew Priestley, who died saving his two sons from drowning in Australia. The 44-year-old died in hospital after getting into difficulty at beauty spot Burrill Beach, about 140 miles south of Sydney, on Friday. It is understood his widow, Amanda, and children Matthew, Daniel and Amelia have flown back to the UK and are now staying with relatives. Mr Priestley, of Market Harborough, worked as a sales and marketing director for Nottingham company I Holland, which produces tablet-making machinery. Ccompany managing director Chris Prideaux today paid tribute, saying: "It is with great sadness that we have received the news of our colleague Andrew's tragic death. "He was first and foremost a devoted husband and father, a family man through and through. For those of us privileged enough to know him, it came as no surprise that he would surrender his own life in the act of saving his sons. "Whatever our feelings of loss at I Holland, they cannot begin to compare with the suffering and loss being felt by his family. "The company will be doing all it can to support his wife, Amanda, and his family at this terrible time. They are in our thoughts and have our heartfelt condolences and sympathies." Mr Priestley and his sons, Matthew, 12, and Daniel, 10, were in the water when the boys got caught in rip currents - fast-flowing channels that drag people away from land and into deep water. Mr Priestley rushed to help the boys and managed to keep them afloat long enough for onlookers to pull them to safety. However, he was overcome in the water, and died in hospital later on. The community in Market Harborough is now trying to come to terms with the tragedy. Pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Voluntary Academy, where Daniel and Amelia, eight, went to school, said prayers in assembly earlier today. A mass is due to be held at the nearby church later this week. Headteacher Karen McVea said: "We are respecting the wishes of the family at this time. "We have said prayers for them and are keeping them in our thoughts." The family are regular worshippers at Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic church, in Market Harborough. Parish priest Canon Owen O'Neill broke the news of Mr Priestley's death to the congregation at a service on Saturday evening. A family friend, who did not want to be named, said the tragedy had shocked and saddened residents in Market Harborough. "They are such active members of the community," the friend said. "They truly are a friendly, gentle and wonderful family. "When they return to Market Harborough they will receive our full support." A report on Mr Priestley's death is being prepared for the coroner by New South Wales police.
Reported by This is 3 hours ago.