Family and friends last night paid tribute to a man who died while swimming at a popular Oxford bathing spot.

Dan Lewis, of Templars Court, Wheatley, was relaxing with three friends at Tumbling Bay, in West Oxford, when they lost sight of him in the water.

Police, firefighters and an ambulance were called at about 6.15pm on Wednesday.

Mr Lewis’s body was found about two hours later.

The 29-year-old’s family said Mr Lewis, an artist who used the nickname Halfcut Art, was a “wonderful man”.

His sister Bethany Lewis said: “We’re all devastated. We can’t take it in. Dan was just the most generous man you could ever meet, and had the biggest heart.

“He was such a giving person and extremely unique person.

“We loved Dan very, very much and we’re going to miss him terribly.”

His father Brian Lewis said: “Dan was a wonderful man. I don’t really know what else to say.”

Mr Lewis had one brother, Paul, and three other sisters, Mitzi, Toni and Merryn.

Last year, he exhibited his art at the Arcane music festival, in Tetsworth.

A Facebook page has been created for friends of Mr Lewis to pay tribute to him.

Matthew Mollison said: “RIP Dan. I agree he was always very happy and friendly whenever I saw him. Life is too short.”

Ciarán MacDonagh said: ”A brilliant star has been extinguished and the world will forever be darker without you mate.”

Tumbling Bay bathing place, off the Bulstake Stream, behind West Oxford Community Centre, in Botley Road, was opened in the 19th century. It was initially for men only and access was by a ferry.

At the height of its popularity in 1947, 86,000 people swam there between May and September.

Oxfordshire Coroner’s office spokesman Lesley Thompson said an inquest into Mr Lewis’s death was likely to be opened early next week.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Chris Kearney said officers were not treating the death as suspicious.