Tributes have poured in for an “amazing” British dad of three who was tragically killed after he was struck to the back of his head with a vodka bottle in a “blind attack”.
David ‘Dai’ Richards, 31, died in Prague on September 21, while on a stag do in the Czech Republic.
The young dad, from Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, was killed after the incident on the city’s Národní Avenue the night before, reports WalesOnline.
Mr Richards’ family rushed to fly out to the Czech Republic as they were told he was in hospital in a critical condition. But his life-support machines were switched off on Saturday afternoon. The family say they have been told his provisional cause of death is blunt force trauma, after he was struck once to the back of the head.
Mr Richards was a partner to Jola Simms and father to Aurora, four, Bear, aged two, and one-year-old Vienna. His distraught family have now paid tribute to the footballer.
Speaking on behalf of the family Mr Richards’ sister-in-law Tammy Sheehan, cousin Gemma Thomas, and partner Miss Simms said Mr Richards had returned from a family holiday on Thursday night before heading to Prague on Friday for the stag do of a close friend.
They said: “He left the house at 5am and it was by 10pm that night our time Gemma and Jola had a phone call from [Mr Richards’ friend] Nathan to say that there was an incident that had happened with David and the whole family needed to get a flight as soon as possible as he was critical,” reported WalesOnline.
David was chatting to locals in the street before the attack took place, say his family.
They said: “It wasn’t a fight like what I think some people are thinking – it was a blind attack. From the attack he actually passed away from blunt force trauma. David was talking to locals in the street when he took a blow to the back of the head.”
A French passer-by gave first aid at the scene according to his family. They added that they weren’t happy with the way that they have been treated by the authorities saying they found they were “really abrupt and blunt and just not that helpful to us”.
Some of Mr Richards’ family remain in Prague while they wait for the death certificate.
The family paid an emotional tribute to Mr Richards decribing him as having the “heart of a lion.”
They said: “He was an extremely family-orientated person. He was the fun one – he always brought the energy. We described him as the glue to the family.”
“He was an absolutely amazing father, partner, son, brother, and friend. There isn’t a bad word to be said about him.”
A fundraising page has now been set up to help with the financial burden on Miss Sims who is now a young single mother of three.
A statement from AFC Abercynon, where Mr Richards was a player, said: “On behalf of everyone at AFC Abercynon we send our deepest condolences to the Richards family – especially Jola, her children, and our teammate Matthew. The world has lost a good man – a father, a son, and a brother. This is a loss for all of us but the grief and sorrow that you as a family must feel are the deepest and most poignant and personal.”
“As mark of respect to all involved our game [on Saturday] was postponed. Dai touched the lives of many involved at our club and we are devastated at this terrible loss. As a club we are here for any support you need and we are all thinking of you at this sad time. Rest in peace Dai.” Matthew, who also played for the team, is Dai’s older brother.
A Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in the Czech Republic,” reports The Mirror.
Local media in the Czech Republic reported that a 26-year-old man, who was also a tourist but whose nationality has not been disclosed. He was arrested outside a hotel following the incident.