Fundraising page set up to support family of well-respected Openreach engineer and family man 'Al Bonc'

Alun Owen, known to friends and family as Al Bonc, died after he fell into the river at Abergwyngregyn in Gwynedd and was swept downstream.

A multi-agency search and rescue operation, involving police officers, firefighters, ambulance crews, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, and the coastguard, was launched on Tuesday, October 6.

Friends of the family have set up a GoFundMe page to support Mr Owen's wife and daughters at this difficult time.

Lee Evans, of Bethesda, said on the fundraising page: "It is with great sadness that iI write this. As many of you may of heard, rragically on Tuesday the 6th of October, Alun Owen (Al Bonc) lost his life doing the job he loved.

"Leaving behind his wife Ceri and two beautiful twin daughters Anni & Cet and the rest of his loving family.

"Alun was an extremely popular and friendly engineer and a loving family man. He will be greatly missed by all.

"We've set up this to help his family in anyway possible at this extremely difficult time. Anything you can contribute would be a great help. Thank you."

Alun, 32, was an Openreach engineer and a former student at Coleg Menai and Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen.

He lived in Bethesda with his wife Ceri and their two daughters.

The page raised more than £1,000 in just an hour.

Other Openreach engineers from throughout the country have left messages of support on the page.

One said: "Sending condolences from the Openreach team in Belfast."

To donate visit https://gf.me/u/y38nfn

The Health and Safety Executive and North Wales Police are working together to establish the sequence of events which led to this tragic incident which resulted in the death of a well-respected local man.

DI Andrew Gibson said: "Our heartfelt sympathies are with the family, friends and colleagues of the engineer at this incredibly difficult time and we would ask that their privacy is respected at this tragic time by the media."