‘You’ll be missed, Charlie’

Tributes have been pouring in for the popular Welshpool man who was tragically killed by a hit-and-run whilst on holiday in Cyprus on Saturday night.

Charlie Birch (pictured) has been described as a “larger than life” character who was “always there for me” by friends that have taken to social media to pay their respects.

Another friend wrote that the 39-year-old “always made us smile and gave us so many funny memories of crazy days”.

Mr. Birch, also described as a “loving family man”, was tragically killed in the early hours of Sunday morning in the holiday resort of Paphos following an alleged earlier altercation in a bar where local media reports that he, and friend Will Pritchard, intervened when a 23-year-old woman was struck by a 35-year-old male.

Both were later hit by a car, killing Mr. Birch and knocking Mr. Pritchard unconscious. Mr. Pritchard, 32, spoke by telephone to his family in Welshpool on Sunday and it is hoped that he will be released from hospital later this week.

Local police are expected to interview him today and have said they are checking CCTV footage from both the bar and the road.

The Cyprus Mail is reporting that the car believed to have been involved in the hit-and-run was found abandoned at the Ayios Georghios harbour. It was in the sea and had to be removed by the fire service.

The news outlet said that witnesses told police the 35-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were both in the water and that people had helped the woman out when she called for help. The man got out by himself. They both then left the area on foot but were picked up by police shortly afterwards. Their nationalities have not been released.

The pair face charges of premeditated murder and attempted murder. They were brought before the Paphos district court and remanded for eight days. Police added today that they had admitted their involvement in the incident but made claims which are being investigated.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are offering advice and support to the family of a British man following his death in Cyprus and are in contact with the Cypriot authorities.”