RNLI Weston-super-Mare and Portishead mourn loss of two volunteers

Chris Lyons died during emergency surgery just before Christmas

Tributes have been paid to two "dedicated" Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers who have died.

The funeral of Chris Lyons, 31, who volunteered in Weston-super-Mare, took place earlier. He died during emergency surgery on 23 December.

RNLI Portishead also announced the death of Bruce du Preez, a 53-year-old helm, who had cancer.

A spokesperson for the RNLI said it had been an "incredibly sad time" for both stations and the wider organisation.

Mr Lyons' coffin was transported in an RNLI boat from the lifeboat station in Weston-super-Mare to the church, where his funeral took place.

A convoy of emergency service and recovery vehicles also joined the procession.

My Lyons' coffin arrived at the church in a lifeboat

Mr Lyons, who had a 10-year-old son and was step-dad to a six-year-old girl, had strong family connections within the RNLI.

His partner, Laura Morgan, is another crew member, and his uncle, Matt Davis, works as the operations manager for the Burnham-on-Sea branch.

The funeral procession also included emergency and recovery vehicles

"Chris was only 31 and an important and passionate member of RNLI Weston, giving his limitless energy to every facet of being a crew member, whether it was on the boat, ashore building our carnival float or enjoying a social night out with his lifeboat family," his colleagues said in a statement.

The RNLI said Bruce du Preez would be "deeply missed"

The RNLI in Portishead is also mourning the loss of Bruce du Preez, who first joined the team in 2003.

Just before he passed away last autumn, Mr du Preez was awarded a medal following 20 years of voluntary service.

During his time at the RNLI, he supported the adoption of the Portishead Lifeboat Trust in 2014 and helped new volunteers who joined the team.

'Deeply missed'

Crew member Emma Tilke said: "I tie knots the way I do because of Bruce, his was the only methods I could understand."

RNLI regional lifesaving lead, Tom Mansell, said the team had "a large Bruce shaped hole at RNLI Portishead".

"I remember him as a bubbly, can do person, full of ideas, always happy to help and completely dedicated to what the station was doing to save lives. A really great volunteer and a really great guy," he said.

"He will be deeply missed by not only us but his beloved family and all who knew him," he added.