Tributes have been paid to a former island resident who has died in a seaplane crash in the United States.

Neil Lunt, aged 58, was killed in a mid-air collision above Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.

He was one of eight people who died when the de Havilland seaplane he was flying collided with a Cessna near Powderhorn Bay at about 2.30pm on July 5.

Pro-golfer Sean Fredrickson, his son Hayden, aged 16, and two stepchildren Sofia, aged 16, and Quinn Olsen, aged 11, who were on their first seaplane ride, also died.

Eyewitness David Kilmer said: ’I heard the sound of impact and my wife, Rebecca, saw the explosion.

’Together, we rushed to the scene in our little craft, and so did many others.

’We hoped for someone we could help, even as I knew in my heart we could not.

’Two hard hats floated upside down on the surface, a red one and a white one. There was one piece of an airplane.’

Mr Kilmer said Mr Lunt had only recently taken him and his dad for a flight in the seaplane which they will always remember. He described the pilot as ’an excellent guide to the skies’.

Born in Liverpool but brought up in the Isle of Man, Neil Lunt was starting his third season as the owner of an already established and successful company, Brookes Seaplanes, at the famous Coeur D’Alene lake and holiday resort in North Idaho.

An avid footballer and leading light in Manx football in his early years, he became an electrical technician in the Royal Navy and 1983 saw him stationed in the Falkland Islands.

Having sailed the world, Neil then went on to open a gym in Athens, Greece, for a few years before returning once more to the island.

He left for California in September 1989 and successfully became a commercial pilot.

For the next 30 years, he followed his dream, flying the bulk of his career for Skywest airlines, the largest commuter airline in North America.

It was while working there that he met his wife Anne, also a pilot, who had the same wonderful sense of humour and dreams.

Together they raised a family and only recently decided to leave California for the rugged outdoors of Coeur D’Alene and the chance to finally own and run an airline of their own, Brookes Seaplanes.

Commercial airline pilot Dave Maddrell, who trained with Mr Lunt some 25 years ago, said: ’Fiercely proud of his Manx heritage, Neil would always have a Manx flag or memorabilia on display in his home and made sure everyone knew it.

’Many of his friends have since visited the island on the strength of his charm, humour and ambassadorial skills.’

Neil leaves behind his wife Anne, children Noah, Christian, Evan, Molly and Connor, brothers Jeff and Keith.