Exeter groom killed in stag night plunge

AN Exeter footballer has died after falling from a balcony while celebrating his stag weekend in Spain with a group of friends.

Team-mates of Tony Kyle called off their weekend match after hearing of his death.

Mr Kyle, a 25-year-old roofer, had flown to Gerona with his party, who are due back in the UK today. British consul staff are helping his family and fiancée Emma.

The pair got engaged around nine months ago and held a party to celebrate in a city pub.

It is thought they were soon due to get married abroad.

Mr Kyle died from injures he sustained in the fall but the details of the accident are still unclear.

His friends say he was popular on and off the pitch.

Players at his team, Heavitree Social United, called off their Devon Premier Cup tie at home to Bere Alston after the tragic news filtered through.

Managers heard about the accident on Saturday morning. There wasn't enough time to stop the Bere Alston team travelling to Exeter but they will return next week to play the third round tie.

Mr Kyle, who lived in Exwick with Emma, had recently also been playing for Whipton & Pinhoe.

As a teenager, he played for St Thomas and Exeter & East Devon Schools before moving to Broadclyst Social Club, where he was a member of the team for five years until this season.

He had been having treatment for a damaged knee ligament and was due to have an operation when he came back from his honeymoon.

Ross Webster, who played at Broadclyst with Mr Kyle, has paid tribute to his friend.

"He was a genuinely nice guy," he said.

"Nobody really knows what happened in Spain. Some news has filtered back to us but it's like Chinese whispers at the moment. We will know more when everyone comes back."

Broadclyst manager Paul Taylor said: "These are such sad circumstances. He was one of my closest friends in the team and we had a good relationship.

"He was a sound lad on and off the pitch and loved his football — he played Saturdays and Sundays.

"He was a very quick and talented player and a good goal scorer, especially in the final of the Devon Senior Cup last year."

Broadclyst secretary Paul White said: "This is such a shock; we know he was due to get married soon.

"On behalf of everyone at the football club, we would like to send our condolences to his family.

"He was a great, outgoing, fun-loving lad."

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