A popular 20-year-old died after his heart stopped on a Croatian beach, an inquest has heard today.

Desperate efforts were made to resuscitate "kind and gentle" Felix Lewis, who was from Whitstable, after he was pulled from the sea by his parents on August 19 last year.

His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from family and friends.

An inquest held at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone found he died of sudden cardiac arrhythmia - an abnormal heart rhythm.

The fashion student, who had worked at Ruskin Clothing in Harbour Street, was on holiday with his family when he was spotted unresponsive in the water.

He had dived into the sea in Pisak but had to be pulled out by mum, Diana, and dad, Ben.

His dad described at the inquest how he saw his wife cradling Felix half out of the water.

In a statement, he said: "At first I thought they were joking but then released it was more serious."

Locals helped with resuscitation before the paramedics arrived - but 45 minutes after he was pulled from the water, they told his parents he could not be saved.

After a sheet was put over his son's body on the beach, Ben said the bathers seemed "pre-occupied, as if nothing had happened".

Assistant coroner Sonia Hayes said at the inquest: "I appreciate the death of Felix Lewis has come as a shock, not because of his age but because he appeared to be a fit and healthy man."

A post-mortem examination conducted in Croatia last year concluded the cause of death was immersion in water due to a broken neck.

But unhappy with the report, which claimed it was an accident, Felix's family asked for a second opinion.

This found no evidence of a broken neck and instead established Felix had suffered a cardiac arrest after he dived into the sea.

His heart was sent to Professor Mary Shepherd at St George's Hospital in London.

She looked at the organ in "great detail" and found it to be normal with no evidence of significant coronary disease.

Dr Shepherd described it as a sudden adult death and noted she had found a normal heart in a number of similar incidents.

The assistant coroner said at the inquest she was satisfied it was far more likely - with no known health problems - that Felix "succumbed to a sudden adult death".

She added that in those conditions it is "often impossible" to revive someone and concluded he died of sudden cardiac arrhythmia and of natural causes.

On behalf of the family, Felix's father said he was "satisfied" with the conclusion when asked by Ms Hayes.

'A kind, loving, gentle soul'

Last year, his parents and brother, Théo, paid a touching tribute to Felix.

“He was our beautiful boy,” they said. “He was a kind, loving, gentle soul who had time for everyone.

“He was full of life, studying fashion at Manchester Uni, surrounded by so many friends and a girlfriend he loved.

“He has been taken from us far too early and we mourn the life he should have lived. There is a Felix-sized hole in our family which will never mend. We love you and miss you.”

Felix was popular in Whitstable, where he had previously held a part-time job at Ruskin, which is owned by his aunt and uncle, Shelly and Garrie Keeys.

Shelly said last year: “We are an extremely close family and watching Felix grow into the gorgeous young man that he was has been a privilege. He was kind, funny, loving and talented, and his loss is unbearable.

“I last saw him the evening before his holiday. We were sitting on the beach hut chatting and that image of his smiling face is the one that I hold onto. We love you Felix.”

Garrie added: “He was much-loved by all of Ruskin’s customers who had the pleasure of being served by him. They always commented what a chatty and happy person he was. He had a brilliant eye for fashion and he loved to help our customers find exactly what suited them best.

“He was embedded in our community and his loss is incalculable.”

Felix studied at the Archbishop’s School and UCA, both in Canterbury, before starting a fashion degree at the University of Manchester.

His girlfriend, Rachel Crowley, said: “He was the best friend and boyfriend I could ever imagine or have the privilege of knowing.

“He was so talented and is so loved by everyone who ever met him. He has shown me what true love is, and I feel blessed to have ever been able to call him mine.

“I will love him forever. I already miss his laugh and his smile and just being able to hear his voice, but I know he is still with us in the sunshine and in the sea, everywhere.

“He is my everything and he is heaven personified.”

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