HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a former Portland schoolboy who died in a tragic sea accident.

Former Royal Manor Arts College student Wade Berryman, 21, had been working as a fisherman in the Thames Estuary.

Coastguards said it appears Wade went into the water after the fishing boat he had been working on began drifting away from a platform near an old fort in the middle of the estuary.

His body was recovered on Saturday night in the area of the Kentish Flats windfarm after coastguards received a report of a drifting unlit fishing boat.

Rescuers attempted to resuscitate Wade but to no avail.

The 25-year-old skipper of the shell and crab fishing boat, Lisa K, was found alive at the old fort and airlifted to hospital.

Police had not officially named Wade last night but tributes were pouring in on his Facebook page.

Friends who knew him affectionately as ‘Spud’ said they couldn’t believe the news. His family from the Weymouth area travelled to Kent when they learned of the tragedy.

It is understood Wade had been living in Southampton but he had previously lived in the Weymouth and Portland area.

Vince Ealson, Secretary of Portland Amateur Boxing Club, said Wade had loads of friends on Portland.

He said: “Wade used to come up to our boxing club when he was younger. He was a really nice lad.

“We heard about it on Facebook. Everyone is really upset.

“He was so young as well, it is a real shame.”

A family friend said the news was still being taken in.

The friend said: “It’s really sad, we’ve heard he jumped in the water to try and push the boat back to its original position. He must have been really brave.”

Scores of heartfelt messages from family and friends have been posted on Wade’s Facebook page.

They include a message from Mark Lewis, who said: “I have just heard about you man, what a brave lad. I can proudly say I knew him and had a drink with him and most of all I can say he was a one-off guy.”

Poppie Chambers posted: “Love you Wade. I can’t believe this has happened; we were only talking the other day. You will never be forgotten.”

Jade Bastiaens added: “I saw you not long ago, you’re going to be missed by hundreds. RIP Spud.”

And Shannon Louise Thorner said: “Still can’t get my head around this, such a lovely lad taken from us. Life just isn’t fair. RIP sweet.”

The date of the funeral has yet to be announced.

THAMES Coastguard said controllers received a call at 8pm on Saturday about a drifting unlit fishing vessel seven miles north of Herne Bay, Kent. When they arrived, the 30-foot boat was found without a crew which led to a search of the area by Whitstable, Sheerness and Margate lifeboats as well as the rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham. The body of a man, later revealed to be Wade, was found in the water. Formal identification was due to take place today. The 25-year-old skipper was found alive on Sunday morning on one of the Red Sands Towers in the Thames Estuary. He was transferred to hospital by a rescue helicopter and assessed for hypothermia. Andrew Ashton, RNLI divisional inspector, said: “Our primary aim is to save lives at sea, and we do everything possible to achieve that. “However, sometimes our crews get called to jobs with a less positive outcome, like this. “We are pleased that one of the casualties was located and found alive, but equally we are saddened about the discovery of the man’s body – the RNLI’s thoughts are with his family.” Rescue crews took the potting boat, which is registered to Brixham in Devon, to Sheerness after ending their search. A spokesman for Kent Police said no further investigations will be taking place and an inquest will be held next week.