The island of Islay was in mourning yesterday after a popular resident was knocked down and killed during a break in Spain.
Stuart MacNeill, 42, was on a golf trip with a group of friends when he was hit by a car in Benidorm on Friday night.
A family member last night paid tribute to the Scottish Power worker, who was known to everyone on the island.
They said: “Stuart was a real character and didn’t have a bad bone in his body. There is not a person on Islay who wouldn’t have known him and the whole place is in mourning.
“Stuart was such a generous character and he had a great sense of humour.
“People are in a state of disbelief that he has gone so suddenly.”
Stuart was with a group of close friends on the annual trip, which was set up the memory of the father of a close friend.
He had been out at a club with the group but decided to go home early when the accident happened.
A post-mortem examination was due to take place in Spain yesterday and his family was working out how and when Stuart’s body could be returned home for his funeral.
The golfing group was due to come home today but the party arranged earlier flights to support his family.
Stuart worked as a lineman for Scottish Power for several years and was known on Islay for his love of running.
He completed several road races, including marathons in Stirling and on Islay.
On Facebook, one friend said: “My head’s been going round all day. He was something else.”
