TRIBUTES have been paid to a Rhyl lifeboat volunteer who had represented Wales as a finalist for Britain's Strongest Man.

Ben Hirst, aged 35, died on Saturday, December 22.

Described as "one of the true gentle giants of this world", the former Rhyl High School pupil went by the nickname Ding-Dong, coined after one of the crew at Rhyl Lifeboat referred to him as Big Ben.

 

Pictures: Rhyl RNLI

In 2016, when Ben was a probationer crew member, the Journal reported how Ben was cycling home from training when he saw a girl being hit by a vehicle near Highfield Park Post Office on Churton Road, Rhyl.

The girl hit the bonnet of the car then “flew about four metres through the air”.

Ben, a father to two boys, called the emergency services and carried out an initial check. He stayed with the girl and supported her head and talked to her to keep her awake until the ambulance arrived.

A spokesperson from Rhyl RNLI Lifeboat said: "Ben was a very popular member of the lifeboat crew at Rhyl. He would go out of his way to help anyone who asked. An ever-present character at the station, Ben will be sorely missed.

"Ben had been a volunteer crew member on both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats at Rhyl for over four years. He would be willing to do any task at the station, and occasionally helped our Lifeboat Visitor Officer Derek Denton with school visits to the station and outside visits.

 

"Ben had been a finalist in the Wales' section of 'Britain's Strongest man' and could always be seen doing the heavy tasks around the boathouse. He was a well-known face in the town, especially with his friends in the gym and fitness fraternity.

"The crew wish to send their deepest sympathies to Ben's immediate and extended families, and our thoughts are with them at this very sad time."

Before this year's Boxing Day Dip in Rhyl, crowds paid their respects to Ben with a round of applause.

Cllr Win Mullen-James, mayor of Rhyl, said: "The event was tinged with sadness over Ben but we had our recognition for him. He was a very talented guy."

Martin Jones, coxswain at Rhyl RNLI, said: "The station will be all the poorer now that Ben has gone. One of the true characters of the station, we will miss his sense of humour and gentle character."

 

Heartfelt tributes have poured in on Facebook from friends. Many echoed the sentiment that Ben was a "true gent" and a "gentle giant".

One friend wrote: "Strong as a bull and not afraid to call a spade a spade, my kind of man. Not many like him and will be sorely missed."

Another posted: "A brilliant friend and such a gentle giant. No matter how he was feeling he laughed it off."

While training, Ben undertook a course at the RNLI headquarters in Poole.

He had described volunteering as an "amazing experience."