HUNDREDS of heartfelt tributes have been posted on social media following a Wellington man’s death in hospital nearly two weeks after he was pushed into the River Tone in the centre of Taunton.

Kevin Thorne, aged 49, was rescued from the water by a passer-by as police arrived at the scene behind the former Debenhams department store.

He was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital where his condition was said to be ‘stable’, but he later deteriorated and died on Monday, December 22.

A woman, aged 30, said to be Mr Thorne’s girlfriend, was arrested at the time of the incident on suspicion of attempted murder.

Mr Thorne’s brother Adrian said on social media: “It with a very heavy heart that I write to inform all of Kevin’s friends and extended family that he passed away.

“Kevin would have been overwhelmed with the amount of support and love people have shown over the last 12 days.

“Kevin fought all the way to the end.

“We as a family were by his side every step of the way.

“To say we are going to miss him and his antics is a massive understatement, he is very, very loved and is going to be very, very missed.

“I have so many memories of Kev as we grew old together and really wish we could have grown older together.

“This is a massive shock to our family network and would appreciate to know how did this happen?”

Police have appealed for any witnesses to the incident where Mr Thorne fell into the River Tone at about 6.40 pm on December 9 to call 101 and quote the reference number 5225345998.

Officers were on scene in less than five minutes and found Mr Thorne being pulled from the water by a ‘member of the public’ and paramedics then administered First Aid.