TWO MEN have died in separate incidents in Llandudno.
Pensioner Eric Roberts, 75, died during a flat fire in Mostyn Steet, at which 10 other occupants were rescued, and the body of sailor John Dain, 64 - who had earlier issued a distress call to the Coastguard - was discovered on West Shore after drowning off Deganwy.
The blaze, at four-storey flats at 118 Mostyn Street, claimed the life of Eric Roberts.
Fire crews from Conwy and Llandudno were called to the flats at 7.14 on Sunday January 1.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is not believed to be suspicious.
Floral tributes had been left to Mr Roberts outside the flat from his family, including daughter Gill and sister Deborah.
Neighbours had seen in the New Year with Mr Roberts hours earlier.
Clive and Janine Roberts, landlords of the Parade, on nearby Church Walks, described him as a “very nice, very kind-hearted” man.
Mr Roberts said: “He liked to have a laugh. He was here for the New Year’s Eve - he came up early to wish us a happy new year. He was a real character. All the folks here loved him. We're going to miss him.”
Earlier on New Year's Eve, Holyhead Coastguard was called at 9.50pm after John Dain, 64, of Upper Gate Street, Conwy, found himself in difficulties about a mile from Deganwy in near-gale force winds, in what was believed a 21-foot day boat.
The Coastguard established contact with Mr Dain at 10pm but lost communication.
His empty boat, which had drifted after being anchored off Penmaenbach, was recovered at 11:06pm.
A search, involving teams from Conwy RNLI, Llandudno RNLI's all-weather lifeboat, a Coastguard team from Llandudno and the North Wales Police helicopter, was eventually called off at 3.30am.
At 9:10am the body of a man was found on the West Shore by Llandudno RNLI.
Coroner John Gittins opened and adjourned an inquest into Mr Dain's death yesterday (Tuesday), after a post mortem by Dr Mark Atkinson said the cause of death was drowning.