Tributes to fun-loving rugby player

TRIBUTES were paid to a fun-loving 20-year-old, who was also a talented rugby player, as his funeral was held yesterday.

Andrew Dunsire, of Station Road, Wrabness, who was known to his friends as “Nuts”, suffered a broken neck after diving into shallow water at Dovercourt on Sunday, July 20.

His friends pulled him from the sea and he was taken to Colchester General Hospital before being transferred to Oldchurch Hospital, Romford.

His condition deteriorated and he died on July 28.

At Weeley Crematorium yesterday, family, friends and more than 100 members of Harwich and Dovercourt Rugby Club lined up to pay their final respects to the talented front-row forward who had trials for Eastern Counties last year.

Six of his team-mates wore their black and white rugby shirts and acted as pallbearers for their friend, who was also kitted out in club colours.

Dan , Andrew's best friend, paid tribute to the young man he first met at school.

He said: “Within a few days of knowing him, I realised what a brilliant bloke he was. I've no idea why he was called Nuts, but it suited his personality down to the ground – he was absolutely mad.”

“I watched him play rugby a couple of times and he always gave 100% - it was definitely the sport for him.

“He also loved his parrot. He named it Mickey after his dad.”

The Rev Eoin Buchanan, conducting the service, described the prop forward's notorious culinary skills.

With a look of sheer delight, he would have salad cream with everything ranging from chips to the Sunday roast, he said.

Mr Buchanan issued a message to those in authority. He said: “Don't let Andrew's death be for nothing: look at the area where he died and make it safer. In modern parlance, sort it.”

A spokesman for Tendring District Council has said although there were comprehensive warnings in the area it would examine the need for additional signs would be helpful in any way.

Andrew leaves his father, his mother, two brothers and two sisters.