A TALENTED Bristol actor has been found dead in Cambodia after going swimming in the Mekong River.
Bristol City fan Thomas Hare, 25, from Southville, is understood to have been taking part in an event
to celebrate the river when he drowned.
to celebrate the river when he drowned.-
Thomas Hare
Mr Hare, who went by the stage name Tommy Vine, had a
burgeoning career and had appeared on BBC's hospital drama Casualty,
Sky's A Touch Of Cloth and Channel 4's Top Boy, as well as starring in
several stage productions.
Mr Hare had last been seen on Thursday swimming in the Kampot Province located in the south of the country.
His body was discovered by local fishermen on Friday.
Mr Hare, who attended Colston's School and John Cabot College, was understood to be taking an extended break in the country.
Kampot police chief Nhem Vet said that Mr Hare had gone missing
near a railway bridge that passes over the river in Teuk Chhou
district's Chum Kriel commune.
Mr Vet said that Mr Hare had visited the river with a friend, and
had jumped from the bridge three times before vanishing under the
water.
Staff from both schools paid tribute to Mr Hare, who lived with
his mother, Debbie, before moving to London to pursue his acting career.
Jane Williams, of John Cabot Academy, was Mr Hare's drama
teacher. She said the school had decided to dedicate the Sixth Form show
this week to Mr Hare and that they would be establishing a Performing
Arts Award in his name.
She said: "Tom was a wonderful human being and of all the people I
have taught he was the one who could have made it. He was a real
character and could walk into a room and make everybody laugh.
"Tom was also a very clever boy and would get As in everything.
He could have been a solicitor or something like that but he wanted to
be an actor.
"He was always so positive. Tom's cup was always half-full and he
embraced life and people around him." she said. Tom had a spark about
him and had a great future in front of him, which makes it all the more
tragic."
Before he joined John Cabot Academy in Year 12, Mr Hare had attended Colston's School.
Stephen Pritchard, director of Drama at Colston's, added: "Tom was a brilliant, highly imaginative pupil.
"He was a generous performer and much-loved individual.
"I saw him last at Bristol Old Vic and was delighted to hear he had decided to follow drama as a career.
"The world has lost a very talented performer and excellent young man."
After completing his education Mr Hare studied at the Arts Educational Theatre School in London.
Principal Jane Harrison said: "He had a very promising career
ahead of him and we are all very saddened to hear about this tragedy."
He graduated three years ago and was also a member of the National Youth Theatre.
A tribute on Bristol City's Fans' Forum read: "Tom was a great
guy that loved the City and followed them home and away, whenever he
could."
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