THE BRITISH student who died while swimming in Lake Como with his girlfriend has been named as his shocked friends pay tribute.
Sam Rigby, just 22, drowned in the Italian beauty spot after going out on the water in windy conditions.
He and his partner, 19-year-old Olivia Greenhall, had rented a boat but struggled to swim back to it after taking it out on the lake.
Strong winds pushed the boat far out off the coast of Menaggio, four miles north of their hotel in Tremezzina.
The couple then had to try and reach it in choppy waters and Olivia tragically lost sight of Sam before he drowned.
One of his friends posted on social media on Thursday: “Rest in Peace Sam lad. This one’s hit a bit close to home. Wow. Shell shocked.”
Another said “RIP Sam Rigby gone way too soon.
“Thoughts are with your family.”
And a woman who knew Sam said the news was “heartbreaking”, adding “he was so young”.
Olivia was pulled from the water by a passing boat when those onboard spotted her struggling.
The teen was unharmed but exhausted and in shock as the rescuers told her boyfriend was missing.
A massive search was quickly launched for Sam, from Liverpool.
Firefighters, rescue teams, and helicopters scoured the huge Lake and shores around Menaggio.
Sam’s body was recovered on Wednesday evening after it was spotted by a police helicopter.
Local cops in the area have launched a full investigation.
A local police source told The Telegraph: “Many tourists are unaware of the dangers on Lake Como, you have to be very careful.”
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told The Sun: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died Italy and are in contact with the local authorities.”
