Tributes have been paid to a British holidaymaker found dead in the woods near a Spanish holiday resort after it was confirmed the body was his.
Well-placed Spanish sources said on Wednesday it was ‘highly likely’ it was Josh Rogers, who went missing at the weekend from his hotel in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava.
His loved ones had been appealing on expat social media sites for information on his whereabouts.
Tributes were today being paid to Wolverhampton Wanderers fan Josh, from Bloxwich near Walsall in the West Midlands, as police insiders confirmed he was the dead man.
Friends have now set up a GoFundMe appeal to help his relatives with the costs of his repatriation and ‘farewell’ funeral. It had raised just over £2,000 by this afternoon.
Organiser Kimberley Lewis said: ‘We are all devastated to hear the sudden and heartbreaking news that Josh has passed away while in Spain.
‘His loss has left an unimaginable void in the lives of everyone who knew and loved him.
‘As his family navigates this incredibly painful time, they are also facing the unexpected financial burden of bringing him home and arranging a farewell that honours his memory.
Tributes have been paid to Josh Rogers, who was found dead in woods near a Spanish holiday resort after it was confirmed the body was his
Pictured: Wolverhampton Wanderers fan Josh, from Bloxwich near Walsall in the West Midlands, as police insiders confirmed he was the dead man
‘This page has been set up to help support Josh’s family to ease the pressure of travel, funeral costs, and give them space to grieve without added stress. Any donation, no matter the amount, will make a meaningful difference.’
She added in a subsequent update: ‘Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. Your generosity means more to the family than words can express. The funds will go toward a range of essential costs during this incredibly difficult time.’
Mick Tambs said in a Facebook tribute: ‘Took me till now to post this so upset. RIP Josh Rogers.
‘Still can’t come to terms. Watched you turn into the lad you was next to my son best mates.
‘I hope you’re at peace now son .God bless you lots of love from us all. Keep the Gold flag flying son.’
Liam Johnson Clarke wrote: ‘R.I.P Josh Rogers. So sad To hear the news.
‘Great to grow up with you up the Molineux or playing football or seeing you out up Walsall back in the day. ‘Rest easy mate. Good genuine guy. Thoughts and prayers with your family at this sad time.’
Another pal said: ‘RIP Josh Rogers. Absolutely gutted. Thoughts and prayers for your family.’
Laura Potts added: ‘RIP Josh Rogers. Such a lovely lad. Had some good laughs with you in the registry and Wetherspoons. Gone way to soon. Thinking of your family at this sad time. Fly high.’
Josh had been posting online about his holiday to Lloret before flying out to Spain last Friday.
His body was discovered around 7pm on Tuesday by a man walking in woods near a residential estate just outside Lloret de Mar’s town centre
He published a photo of a glass of Strongbow cider while he was at JD Wetherspoons at Birmingham Airport on Friday, the day he left the UK for Spain, and said: ‘Get me on that plane.’
He added in a second post alongside plane and beer emoticons: ‘Get me away.’
Appearing to show he was looking forward to the start of his holiday, by starting to pack more than a week before he was due to leave, he said in another post nine days before he got on his plane: ‘There’s my toiletries packed and a couple of bits.
‘Roll on next Friday. Get me on that plane.’
Days later he posted a tribute to boxer Ricky Hatton who was found dead at his Hyde home on September 14.
His body was discovered around 7pm on Tuesday by a man walking in woods near a residential estate just outside Lloret de Mar’s town centre.
It is not yet clear what the cause of death was but Spanish police say they have ruled out foul play.
Last Saturday Spanish police found the body of a British man who went missing on the Costa del Sol last month.
Andrew Wade, 65, was last seen on August 15 with friends saying after he left his home near Marbella they were extremely worried something bad had happened to him.
Around midday on Saturday National Police officers who had been participating in a search for him said they had found a body thought to be his in an area called Paraiso near Estepona.
Drones were used in the hunt to find Mr Wade, who cops said had been preparing to move back to the UK when he vanished.
Well-placed Spanish sources said on Wednesday it was ‘highly likely’ it was Josh Rogers, who went missing at the weekend from his hotel in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava
Another Briton, 76-year Clifford Wildgoose, vanished in the early hours of Saturday morning from a bar in Puerto Banus near Marbella.
The retired property developer, originally from Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, Greater Manchester but now living in Whitby in North Yorkshire, was recognised late on Sunday by an American tourist who had seen social media appeals by the missing man’s family.
Mr Wildgoose has now flown back to the UK after being taken to hospital in Spain.
The same day Josh Rogers was found dead, a 58-year-old British holidaymaker drowned at Cap Sant Pere beach in the popular resort of Cambrils south of Tarragona on Spain’s east coast.
He is said to have been spotted floating in the water by his wife who raised the alarm.
The place where the tourist drowned is just a 15-minute drive from Llarga Beach in Salou where Birmingham youngsters Ameiya and Ricardo Junior Paris, 13 and 11, were pulled from the water on July 29 after getting into difficulties before being pronounced dead at the scene.
Their construction worker father Ricardo Senior tried to save them and had to be rescued by emergency services.
They were on a family holiday with their mum and two other siblings at the time.
