A champion boxer from Arbroath has died suddenly at the age of 30 while working in Ghana.
Barrie Lee burst on to the professional scene at the age of 21 and won a Scottish title in 2004 before twice defending it.
He sparred with Ricky Hatton in Manchester and fought on the undercard of world title fights involving Joe Calzaghe and Scott Harrison.
The former Arbroath High School pupil, who lived in the town with partner Stacey Walker and son Jack (6), worked in Ghana for oil and gas company Weatherford International.
A minute’s silence will be held at the annual charity boxing show tonight in Arbroath Community Centre.
Among those attending will be Olympic gold medal winner Dick McTaggart and Barrie’s former professional coach George Ramsay, who was too upset to speak about the tragedy.
The circumstances of Barrie’s death on Wednesday remain unclear but it is understood he may have been out for a run shortly before he died. Worried colleagues are understood to have discovered him in his accommodation after becoming concerned when he failed to turn up for work.
Arbroath Boxing Club chairman Doug Ford said everyone associated with the sport locally is devastated by the news.
He added: ”When he turned professional he would still come down to the club and help the young amateur boxers with the sparring.”
Barrie made his professional debut at Meadowbank in 2003 with a points win over Englishman Dave Wakefield in their super-middleweight bout.
He won six and drew one of his first seven professional bouts before beating Craig Lynch for the vacant Scottish light middleweight title in Edinburgh.
He had the best possible preparation for his title fight by sparring with then-WBU lightweight world champion Ricky Hatton.
The Arbroath boxer was then paired against Thomas McDonagh for a showdown in Manchester for the WBU International middleweight title in 2005. But his unbeaten record came undone when McDonagh held on to his crown.
Miss Walker’s stepfather said the family were too upset to talk.