Tributes have been paid to a Putney man whose body was found in the River Thames on Wednesday (August 18).

Friends of Paul Conte have shared touching anecdotes in a fundraising page set up to fund his funeral. 

The page, which was created to give the late 21-year-old, “the most amazing send-off he deserves,” has nearly reached its target after one day. 

The Met Police previously launched an information appeal to trace Mr Conte who went missing at around 12.40 am on Sunday (August 15), after a house party on Ferry Road in the Barnes area.

On Wednesday (August 18), police confirmed they recovered a body from the Thames near Putney Bridge.

Outpourings of support and memories have flooded Mr Conte's crowdfunding page since.

An online statement reads:

“Paul was an amazing son, brother, teacher, boyfriend and friend and this has come as a shock to everyone.

“Paul was bubbly, always had loads of energy and always put others before him. He loved his kickboxing, loved the gym and loved socialising.” 

The fundraiser has reached nearly £9,000 of its £12,000, despite only being created yesterday. 

Others have shared emotional tributes of the Putney man, who was a well-loved kickboxing teacher. 

One comment read: “The best Kickboxing teacher who always made our Wednesday lessons such a laugh! A genuine and beautiful person who carried an aura different about them, taken too soon, rest in perfect peace Paul.” 

You can donate to the fundraiser here.