The family of the Irishman who drowned off the coast of the Netherlands are "devastated" at the loss of a "kind and talented" young man.
The deceased man has been named locally as Alan Lucid, got into difficulty swimming off the coast of Holland in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The 28-year-old was a PhD student in University College Cork, and was was working as a researcher in Cereal and Beverage Science.
Earlier in the week he had travelled to Egmond An Zee in the Netherlands to attend the International Symposium on Lactic Acid Bacteria, which finished on Thursday.
Mr Lucid, was originally from Knockane in Ballyheigue, Co Kerry.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Fianna Fáil Councillor John Lucid who is the young man’s cousin said that the whole family have been devastated by the sudden and tragic death of a talented young man.
“His mother Jack and Bridie are devastated by the loss of their loving son. Alan is one of a number of boys in the family and he one sister Mary. Alan also had a girlfriend who lives in cork.
He was working in research in UCC in the food and beverage unit where he was completing his PHD. He attended the conference in the Netherlands before the tragedy occurred.”
His cousin remembered the young man for his keen interest in sport in his early years.
“Alan was involved in the local GAA club and he was very good and played underage hurling. When he went on to university his life moved to Cork but he was a lovely young man and very quiet.
“He was the sort of young man that would do anything to help others and he never caused his parents a moment of trouble. He was good at school and very hard working,” Cllr Lucid told The Irish Times.
Mr Lucid’s brothers and his girlfriend are currently travelling to the Netherlands to bring Mr Lucid home to Ireland for burial in the coming days.