Murder of man leaves 'massive void' in family

Nick Bryan was described as "kind" and "caring" by his family

The family of a Leicester-born man who was murdered in Somerset say his death has left "a massive void" in their lives.

Nick Bryan, 46, was left unconscious after being attacked by Adam Bowers, 35, on 15 November 2021 at a property in Rydal Road, Weston-super-Mare.

Mr Bryan died in hospital two days later after his sister and mother, Holly and Anne Bryan, made the decision to turn his life support off.

Bowers received a minimum of 19 years in prison at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, after pleading guilty to murdering Mr Bryan back in February.

Adam Bowers attacked Nick Bryan on 15 November 2021, fatally wounding him

Mr Bryan grew up in Evington, with his sister Holly, 46, describing him as "a very kind and caring and brilliant brother".

She said: "[Nick] didn't have an aggressive bone in his body. He wouldn't say boo to a goose.

"He loved to cook. He made delicious meals, but also a big mess in the kitchen when he was doing it, which we laughed about.

"It had been just the three of us for a long time, our dad died when we were nine and 11.

"A lot of our aunts and uncles had emigrated a long time ago, so since 1986 it was just the three of us, and now it is just me and mum."

Holly and Anne say they are "a really tight family unit"

After attending Whitehall Primary School, Judgemeadow Community College, then WQE College in Leicester, he went to the University of Liverpool to study physiotherapy.

Mr Bryan went on to have jobs in the travel and insurance sector, including a role working on cruises, which saw him travel the world.

Anne, 78, said Mr Bryan was also "a bit of a daredevil", having done bungee jumping and white water rafting while travelling.

She added: "He had been a good runner when he was younger for Leicester Coritanians."

Mr Byran went bungee jumping while on a trip to Zimbabwe with his sister

The mother and daughter describe themselves as "a really tight family unit".

Holly said: "He wasn’t only my brother, he was my best friend."

Mr Bryan loved Wonder Woman, with his funeral themed around the comic book character.

Holly said: "It was great. He would have loved it.

"We were so tight the three of us. There’s just a massive void with him gone."

Holly and Anne Bryan say they had to buy him something related to Wonder Woman for every Christmas or birthday

The pair spoke of the moment they found out that Mr Bryan had been attacked, after being contacted by his friend, Jamie Russell, who was his next of kin at the time.

Holly described seeing her brother in hospital as "horrible", while Anne said there were tubes and blood "everywhere", adding it was "gruesome".

She described the two and a half years since Mr Bryan's death as "a rollercoaster of emotion".

Nick Bryan visited Mexico, Australia and the USA on his travels

Anne added: "It hangs over your head the whole time, at the back of your brain."

Holly said: "I still buy little Wonder Woman presents and keep them. It’s not the same. How can it be?

"I’d like him to be remembered for how wonderful a person he was. His hysterical laugh. It was so loud."

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