British police officer in his 20s dies on Spanish holiday

Tributes have poured in for PC Jack Reay, 26 (Image: Staffordshire Police Federation) A British police constable has died suddenly while on a holiday on the Spanish island of Mallorca.  PC Jack Reay, 26, from Uttoxeter, went into cardiac arrest while in Mallorca.  He had been a police constable in Staffordshire for several years, working in the local policing department in Leek. The Police Federation described the young man as a ‘ray of sunshine who was popular with his colleagues’. Tributes from his colleagues, family and friends suggested the 26-year-old had a ‘bright future ahead of him’.  The Police Federation said Mr Reay had been a ‘popular member of the team’ and said his colleagues were ‘devastated’ by the news.  Chairman of the Staffordshire Police Federation, Lee Robinson said: ‘We are absolutely devastated. He was a really popular member of the team. ‘He was such a young lad with such a bright future ahead of him. He was so well thought of. His colleagues are devastated. ‘The way that his colleagues have reacted and the overwhelming sadness that this has created within the police family is testament to his popularity. It’s just so sad. He was so young.’ A GoFundMe page set up by Mr Reay’s brother Tom to raise funeral expenses has already raised nearly £7,000.  In a statement attached to the page, Mr Reay’s brother wrote: ‘We are utterly devastated by the sudden tragic death of my brother Jack Reay at the age of 26. ‘He died in Mallorca from a sudden cardiac arrest, surrounded by his closest friends. ‘Our family wants to give Jack the best goodbye we can possibly do. Any donations you could give please to help with his repatriation and funeral costs would be greatly received.’  He added: ‘This would enable us to make this a special day to celebrate the life of Jack. Thank you, from Tom and my family.’ Mr Reay’s rugby club, Uttoxeter, praised the young man as an ‘invaluable member of our 2nd team’.  Paying tribute, the club said: ‘Jack came to us simply looking for a casual game of rugby and instantly became an invaluable member of our 2nd team squad raising the game of everyone around him with his undeniably talented gameplay. ‘We feel privileged to have had the chance to play alongside him and will miss him deeply. All of Jack’s loved ones can be assured that he was admired by everyone he knew at Uttoxeter RFC and our thoughts will remain with his family and friends through this difficult time.’ This story was first reported by StokeonTrentLIVE.  British tourists warned of passport rules for EU holidays