River fall tragedy man named
A Shropshire man who died after plunging off a Spanish mountainside into a freezing river has been named as 20-year-old Shane Solon from Wellington. A Shropshire man who died after plunging off a Spanish mountainside into a freezing river has been named as 20-year-old Shane Solon from Wellington. Mr Solon, of North Road, had started work just three weeks ago as a children's holiday rep on the coast near the Catalan Pyrenees. He was trekking in the mountains on Saturday with two friends and apparently slipped as they were descending when the weather took a turn for the worse. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Mr Solon, of North Road, had started work just three weeks ago as a children's holiday rep on the coast near the Catalan Pyrenees.
He was trekking in the mountains on Saturday with two friends and apparently slipped as they were descending when the weather took a turn for the worse.
His family have only scant details of the tragedy as Spanish police are still investigating.
Two mountain rescue teams and a helicopter were scrambled to the scene, but he was dead by the time they reached him.
An inquest is likely to be held by Michael Gwynne, Telford & Wrekin coroner.
Mr Solon, a former pupil of Blessed Robert Johnson School and Telford College in Wellington, lived with his mother Caroline, 42, sisters Nina, 22, and Ella, 14, and 19-year-old brother Martin.
Shane, a DJ and dance music fan, was a regular at Wellington nightpots.
His mother, said that Shane was devoted to his family, especially his disabled sister Nina, 22, whom he often took clubbing in the town.And his pleasant personality had made him a huge hit in his new job as a children's holiday representative in Spain.
Mrs Solon said: "Shane was a great son and a real support to me. He put on the big 'I am', but was really soft at heart and everybody loved him."
She said Shane had narrowly cheated death last year after suffering a burst appendix and three life-threatening infections during a month in hospital.
Mrs Solon, a full-time carer for Nina, who has cerebral palsy, said: "Shane worked as assistant manager at The Beacon pub in Wellington."He was really into dance music, worked as a DJ at pubs and loved taking Nina out clubbing at Pussycats, the Queen's Head and The Beacon. He was a good-looking lad and had a big fan club of girls."
She said Shane, an "absolutely mad Liverpool FC fan", had just started work as a rep in the Catalan Pyrenees for holiday company Siblu, which has luxury caravans at El Delfin Verde on the Mediterranean coast.
"I phoned him on Friday evening," said his mum. "He said he was on a day off on Saturday when he and two other reps were going walking. That was the last time I spoke to him. The next I heard was when police came round at Sunday dinnertime to tell me he was dead.
"We understand Shane and his friends turned round because of bad weather and were on their way down when he lost his footing and fell into a river."
Shane's body is to be flown home and an inquest is likely to be held in Wellington.
John Rome, licensee of The Beacon, said: "Shane was lively, outgoing and really popular."
By Peter Johnson
