A FATHER has paid tribute to his 30-year-old son who died after falling from a hotel balcony while on holiday in Spain.University graduate Jason Gooch died after the accident at 5am on Monday morning in Calella de la Costa, Barcelona.

A FATHER has paid tribute to his 30-year-old son who died after falling from a hotel balcony while on holiday in Spain.

University graduate Jason Gooch died after the accident at 5am on Monday morning in Calella de la Costa, Barcelona.

He had only flown out for a few days with friends and had been due back today at his home in Onehouse, near Stowmarket, where he lived with his father.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said his death was not being treated as suspicious by the Spanish authorities, although mystery surrounds the exact circumstances of his death.

Retired surveyor Reg Gooch, 76, Jason's father, said: “I did not know where he was staying, he was only hopping over there for a few days.

“It's a shock and I have not come to terms with it yet, but the family are rallying round, and my other son has come home to be with me.

“Jason was a very popular, social boy, and a lovely lad. He was a real performer and one of the stars each year with the local productions, it was in his blood. I was proud of him and am so grateful for people who have come round, the flowers and cards people are sending.”

Jan Taylor, chairwoman of the village's Jubilee Players group of which Mr Gooch was a member, said “He was a superb, a really lovely lad, he would always have a joke with you.”

Mr Gooch had worked for CEVA, formerly TNT Logistics, for two years as a warehouse operative and a spokeswoman for the firm said: “Jason was well liked by everyone and a well respected gentleman. He will be sadly missed both professionally and personally.”

Mr Gooch went to Stowmarket's Chilton Primary School and middle school, and had been an active member of the town's scouts where he had trained to be a leader.

He went on to the town's high school where he was deputy head boy and stayed on into the sixth form where he studied for his A levels.

Mr Gooch then won a place at De Montfort University in Leicester to read for a BA(Hons) degree in history, where he gained a 2:1 and he started to train as a teacher, but decided it was not the career for him.

He went on to work in a variety of jobs including as a salesman, and latterly as a warehouseman in Mendlesham.

Mr Gooch had a younger brother and two half sisters and his funeral arrangements have yet to be confirmed.