Young soccer player, blogger among those killed in Tunisia
Jun 28, 2015, 6:31 AM
People, some displaying a Tunisian flag, stand in silence next to flowers during a gathering at the scene of the attack in Sousse, Tunisia, Sunday, June 28, 2015. The Friday attack on tourists at a beach is expected to be a huge blow to Tunisia's tourism sector, which made up nearly 15 percent of the country's gross domestic product in 2014. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)
(AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)
LONDON (AP) — Three men from the same British family, a recently engaged lifestyle blogger and a couple whose children launched a desperate social media campaign to find them were among those feared killed in the Tunisian beach attack.
Britain’s government says at least 15 Britons were among the 38 killed when a university student opened fire Friday at the Sousse beach resort. Officials haven’t officially confirmed the names of the victims, but families and friends have released details of those killed to British media. Other families were still fearing the worst Sunday.
Tunisian authorities have said other victims include people from Germany, Ireland, Belgium and Portugal.
Here is a look at some of those believed killed:
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Joel Richards, a 19-year-old student and active soccer player, was reportedly killed along with his uncle, Adrian Evans, as well as his grandfather, 78-year-old Charles Evans. All three were keen soccer fans who were holidaying together at the beach.
“A young, talented referee with the world at his feet. He was highly thought of and will be sadly missed,” Ian Murphy of the Birmingham County Football Association said of Richards. “He was such a talented lad,” he added to Sky News.
Another Birmingham-based club, James Connolly’s GFC, said Richards was an “exceptionally talented footballer” who represented his club and county on numerous occasions.
Joel’s 16-year-old brother, Owen, who was also at the beach, reportedly fled the scene, surviving a bullet wound to his shoulder.
A local council paid tribute to Adrian Evans, 49, described as a popular and long-serving employee who managed gas services.
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Carly Lovett, 24, was a budding lifestyle blogger on holiday with her fiance Liam Moore.
Lovett, a University of Lincoln graduate and a photographer, had just recently launched a blog sharing her love for beauty products.
The university’s school of film and media confirmed Lovett graduated in 2013, and tweeted it was saddened to hear news reports about her.
As friends and fellow bloggers paid tribute to her on social media, a poignant message Lovett wrote on Wednesday is still on Twitter: “Definitely leaving in like three hours and definitely am not finished packing…”
Her fiance was reportedly traveling home.
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Like others, 23-year-old Conor Fulford turned to social media for help when he became increasingly worried about his missing mother Sue Davey, 44.
Fulford, who thought he may have seen his mother on television as she was being taken away on a stretcher, repeatedly tweeted pleas for information.
So did Ross Nayler, whose father, 42-year-old Scott Chaulkley, was on holiday in Tunisia together with Davey.
“I’m checking Twitter and all the other social media just for anything really, just for any update,” Nayler told ITV News.
But by Saturday night, both sons learned the truth. Fulford wrote: “Sorry to tell you we lost my mother Sue Davey tonight.” He added: “Love you always Mom, I’ve got my teddy bear you got me tonight. Rest easy.”
Severn Trent Water, where Davey and Chaulkley worked, paid tribute to the pair Sunday. “Sue and Scott had a passion to help others however they could, they cared enormously for all those they worked with and were totally committed to our customers and our company,” the company said in a statement.
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