A 31-year-old man who died after he fell off the dockside in Hamilton this week has been named by police.

Kristian Baboolal, 31, a Canadian national who worked for the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, hit his head on the stern of the party boat Zara before he landed in the water on Monday evening.

Les Ruddock, a close friend and manager of the hotel’s 1609 restaurant, said: “From Day 1 when Kristian arrived, we just meshed so well.

“He was pretty much like my little brother.”

Mr Ruddock added that the two became friends outside work as well as at the hotel.

He said: “I’m taking it really hard — he made an impression on so many people — he was very funny, very sassy, but very genuine at the same time. He would give you the shirt off his back.”

Mr Ruddock said that Mr Baboolal had also taken part in the Bermuda Cancer & Health Centre’s annual fundraising walk at the National Stadium and pitched in to help feed essential workers at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown.

He added that Mr Baboolal also regularly stocked the communal fridges in the hotel’s staff accommodation with snacks for his colleagues.

Mr Ruddock said that Mr Baboolal was a fitness enthusiast — and boxed, despite having to fight without his glasses.

He added: “He couldn’t see properly without them, but he’d still get in the ring and get punched in the face.”

Mr Ruddock said: “Everybody in the hotel is struggling now — he made a friend of everyone.”

He added that Mr Baboolal loved boats and spent as much time on the water as he could.

Mr Ruddock said: “I have been out on the Zara with him, but I’d just moved, which is the reason I couldn’t go on Monday.”

Tim Morrison, the Fairmont-managed hotel’s general manager, said: “The entire team at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club was devastated to learn of the passing of our beloved team member, Kristian Baboolal.

“He was an incredibly popular member of our team and we are all extremely upset and shocked.”

Mr Morrison added that Mr Baboolal had worked at the hotel for 2½ years and joined from Fairmont in Canada.

He said Mr Baboolal had “made a huge impact on the hotel”.

Mr Morrison added: “He inspired those that he worked with and made genuine connections with our guests, making them feel really special — as he did with many of his friends and colleagues.

“Everyone who met Kristian was impressed by his passion and enthusiasm for his work and for life and no one who worked with him was untouched by his vibrancy and kindness.

“We offer our deepest, heartfelt condolences to Kristian’s family, friends and Hamilton Princess team. We will miss him very much.”

Bermuda Coastguard members and civilian divers in the area at the time rescued Mr Baboolal and gave him CPR before he was rushed by ambulance to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

But he was later pronounced dead by doctors. The incident happened at 5.30pm on Monday.

A police spokesman said: “The Bermuda Police Service extends its sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of Mr Baboolal during this difficult time.”