THE family of River Reeves have paid an emotional tribute to the guitarist following his tragic death.

In a statement issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth office, the family spoke of their heartbreak after the 19-year-old was killed in a crash in Sweden on Saturday.

River along with frontman Kris Leonard, 19, bassist Tom Lowe, 27, drummer Jack Dakin, 24, and their manager Craig Tarry, 32, died when their car plunged more than 82ft from a highway bridge into a canal in Stockholm

The family said: “We are all heartbroken following River's tragic death and the circumstances which have seen him lose his life alongside the bandmates and manager he adored and loved being with.

"Viola Beach were on such an exciting journey and River could not have been happier.

"He would have loved to have stuck around for the party. 

“All River wanted to do was perform and entertain and to think that he will never make us laugh again with his ridiculous impressions and cheeky banter is beyond comprehension for all his family.

 

 


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"River had such talent and such humility, such charm and such innocence it seems so unfair that he can be taken so cruelly from us like this. 

“We are so proud of him, not only for what he achieved in his short, beautiful life, but also what he was clearly destined to achieve. He will live forever in our hearts and we hope the band's wonderful music lives on.”