By Duncan Brodie

October 21, 2005

Tributes have been paid to the well-known Edinburgh public relations manager who drowned in the Middle East. John Higgins, 37, was swimming in the Red Sea near Eilat, in Israel, after attending a diving course, on Monday, 10 October.

He was alone when he got into trouble and was only discovered when his body washed up on the Israeli coastline.

Friends and former colleagues described as "charismatic and amazing" the man whose CV included a period spent working as press manager for Playboy boss Hugh Hefner, in the south of France.

During his time in Edinburgh he worked for Edinburgh City Council, spent five years at the List magazine and was spokesman for the Fringe and International festivals.

Mr Higgins had only recently moved to Eilat after taking a job with a PR company in Israel.

Friends said he had described it as "the job of a lifetime" and had been very excited.

People in the capital knew Mr Higgins as a larger-than-life character. When living in the city he would often be seen out and about in a green tartan suit.

He worked in the entertainment world and rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous.

Last night friends and past colleagues paid tribute to the former St Augustine's High School pupil, whose funeral was held at Our Lady's RC Church in Currie yesterday.

Judith Craig, 32, said: "John was a fabulous friend and loyal colleague. When anyone who knew him thinks of him they immediately think of laughter, sun, dancing 'til dawn and misbehaving.

"He was an amazing person and a real bright light. He was hugely charismatic and would light up any room."

Robin Hodge, the publisher and general editor for the List magazine, said: "John was a wonderful guy, he was very much part of the List and contributed a lot to Edinburgh life.

"He joined the List as the advertising manager and was also the party organiser. He made an enormous impact here and enjoyed himself to the full."

A spokeswomen for the International Festival said: "John brought a tremendous energy and sense of fun with him and was a great colleague and friend throughout the manic Festival times and during the rest of the year. He'll be hugely missed."

Thom Dibdin, a theatre critic and friend of Mr Higgins, said: "He was larger than life, he was a very outgoing type of person - you cannot imagine a world existing without him. He was warm-hearted and very generous.

"He was very colourful, everyone was wearing black at his funeral, but I wore colourful socks in his memory. If he walked into a room it would light up. This is very sad news and he will be missed by all who knew him."