7:12 am, August 5, 2011
A CAR dealer has been found dead in North Wales after falling from his boat into the sea.
The body of Alan Dawson Patterson (63) of Froghall, Staffordshire, was found floating off Bennar Beach, near Dyffryn Ardudwy last Tuesday.
As reported by The Sentinel, Paterson believed to have fallen from his 25ft boat, called Keep Smiling (pictured right).
Paterson was the owner of Autoline Motors in Staffordshire.
Close friend Ivor Lucas, vice-chairman of Kingsley Parish Council, said he was ‘deeply shocked’ when he heard what had happened.
Lucas said: ‘I’ve known Alan for 20-odd years and he was a tremendous guy. I’m so shocked because my son is a big friend of both of his sons.
‘They were into racing and went all over the country.
‘I was only down at the yard the other day and there was a boat there. He’s always ran a very good business.
‘It’s a terrible tragedy because he was such a nice guy and so easy to get on with.’
An inquiry into the circumstances of his death has been launched by Police, which is not being treated as suspicious.
