Lawyer Gillian Metcalf killed in Brazil boating accident

Gillian Metcalf was a founding partner at Sharratts law firm in Brasted

Colleagues of a British lawyer killed in a boating accident while on holiday with her family in Brazil have paid tribute to "a very special person".

Gillian Metcalf, 50, of Tenterden, Kent, died from head injuries when their boat was hit by another vessel on the Rio Negro river on Thursday.

Richard Locke, her colleague at Sharratts housing law firm in Brasted, said he was "devastated".

He said Ms Metcalf was a loving wife and devoted mother to her two girls.

In a statement on the firm's website, he said: "As you will imagine this news has hit us all very hard

"Gill was a marvellous lawyer [and] a generous friend."

A Foreign Office spokesman said it was aware of the death of a British national in Manaus on 5 September.

"We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time," he said.