Premier League footballer Luke Young has said he is “devastated” after his teenage brother was found dead after a night out drinking with friends in a Greek holiday resort.
The body of 17-year-old Andre Young from Saffron Walden, Essex, was discovered on Wednesday morning on a building site near his hotel in Malia, Crete.
His parents have flown to the island to identify their son, who suffered serious head injuries.
The Aston Villa and England defender said: "My family and I are devastated by the tragic death of my younger brother Andre in Malia, Crete, earlier this week.
“He was a tremendous and talented person and a diligent student and this is such a waste of a promising life.”
The family appealed for anybody with information on Andre’s whereabouts during his last night out to come forward.
Holidaymaker Bethany Billings, 21, who saw the teenager before he went missing, said he had been drinking with friends.
She told the Daily Mirror: “He was proper drunk. He knew he’d had enough and wanted to go home.”
She said she last saw him staggering up the street, and added: “He must have tripped and hit his head.”
A spokesman for the police in Crete said they were not treating the death as suspicious.
Malia has recently been in the headlines amid complaints by locals about the behaviour of drunken British tourists.
Local woman Marina Fanouraki threw sambuca over Swindon plumber Stuart Feltham, 20, after she accused him of sexually harassing her.
He suffered serious burns after he claimed she deliberately set light to the spirit, which she denies.
More than 200 people have joined a group set up in tribute to Andre on Facebook.
One friend, Rhiannon Parry, wrote: “Shocked, really really shocked!! Rest in Peace buddy x”
Another, Jay Pledger from Saffron Walden County High School, wrote: “You will be forever remembered. Maths classes were no good without you mate. R.I.P. xx”.
