George and Louis Selby Majorca sea deaths: Tributes paid
A father who drowned trying to save his son when he was swept out to sea on holiday in Majorca has been described as a "hero" by colleagues.
George Selby, 28, and Louis, seven, died on Sunday at Cala Antena, a bay near Calas de Mallorca in Spain.
Mr Selby, of Hartland Road, Hornchurch, was on his first foreign holiday with his wife and three children.
His colleagues at a cash converter in Romford, east London, said the "hero" father's selfless action was typical.
'Make us laugh'
It is understood that Louis was having his photo taken on a stepped rocky area near the sea when a wave hit him and swept him away. Mr Selby jumped in to try to save him.
It was the first day of the family's Spanish holiday.
Kathleen Francis, who worked with Mr Selby at Cash Concepts in Romford, said: "To me he's a hero because he went into the sea after his son, no thought for himself.
"The little boy used to come in and want to clean, 'Can I clean for you Kathy', and spray everything and he used to make us laugh.
"It's very hard for all of us because we all loved George.
"He wound us up, we just loved him."
Several customers who knew Mr Selby left flowers for him at the shop.
The family had recently moved into a property in Hartland Road and neighbours described them as "happy".
Speaking to the BBC, Humphrey Carter, who works for Majorca Daily Bulletin, said authorities in Majorca should consider closing off the steps where Louis was struck by the wave.
"They need to perhaps think about looking at closing it or some form of gate at the top which they can close when it's bad weather and red flags are flying down at the beach."
Following the deaths, Mr Selby's mother Christine said the tragedy had "devastated the lives of his wife, sons, and mother".