Tributes have been paid locally and internationally to a St George’s man who lost his life early on Sunday in a traffic accident at the East End.

Freddy Hall, 37, was the goalkeeper for the St George’s team as well as a former Limerick and Toronto FC player.

His footballing career included spells at English clubs Northampton Town, Burton Albion, Chester and Oxford City.

Mr Hall, father to a young daughter, died after a single-vehicle car crash on South Prison Street in St George near the junction with Rose Hill.

A 56-year-old man who was a passenger sustained minor leg injuries.

The accident was reported to police at 3am after Mr Hall made his way to a residence.

Despite efforts at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Neil Paynter, president of St George’s Cricket Club, where Mr Hall served as football chairman, said Mr Hall’s death was “a big loss not only for his family and St George’s, but for the community of Bermuda at large”.

He added: “The way I look at it as president, Freddy was one of our future leaders.

“We had high hopes and aspirations that once he finished with football, he would be a leader in our community.”

Mr Hall, who in the past played cricket for the club, was “imparting a lot of his skills, assets and knowledge”, Mr Paynter said.

“He was always willing to pass it on to another goalkeeper, to improve our standards in Bermuda.

“He was a great guy, well mannered, well respected, well spoken, very polite and intelligent.”

Mr Paynter offered the club’s condolences to the family, adding that Mr Hall’s uncle Troy Hall, another goalkeeper, was a close friend.

Kim Swan, the Progressive Labour Party MP for St George’s West, counted Mr Hall among his relatives.

“Freddy was a very, very nice young fellow, well liked and respected,” he said.

“His mother and father and two sisters live in the UK.

“Freddy was an all-round athlete who worked a little bit at Port Royal Golf Course a couple of years ago. I thought he could teach both football and golf to youngsters.”

In a post to social media on Monday, Mr Swan wrote that it was “hard to process yet another loss in our community”.

The tragedy marked the island’s fifth road fatality of 2022.

Media in Britain and Ireland also paid respects to the footballer after the tragedy was shared on social media by clubs where Mr Hall played.

Tributes were carried yesterday in the Irish Independent as well as by the BBC.

The BBC report quoted a statement from Northampton Town which said: "We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing. Our thoughts are with Freddy's family and friends at this very sad time."

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Mr Hall also played for Limerick FC, in Ireland, between 2015 and 2018 and the club issued a statement which said: “It was with great sadness that we learnt of the untimely death of Freddy Hall who served the club with distinction during his time here.

“The club extends its sincere condolences to Freddy's family at his tragic passing.”

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A police spokesman said the fatal crash is under investigation by Pc Dennis Joell, who can be reached at 717-2221 or by e-mail at djoell@bps.bm.

Anyone with information, in particular witnesses to the crash or anyone with details on Mr Hall’s whereabouts before 3am on Sunday, is urged to call 211 or the main police number, 295-0011.

• UPDATE: This article has been updated to amend the age of the passenger after new information from the police, and to add police contact details for anyone with information about the crash.