A FORMER Didim resident – Peter Rigg – has lost his fight for life after a serious illness.

Voices reported on Tuesday afternoon that the well-known and much-loved character was seriously ill at home in the UK with his family at bedside, and a McMillan nurse and district nurses in attendance.

We can now confirm that he died overnight at home in Leeds.

Mr Rigg, 65, is pictured fifth from the left in the orange vest.

The family, in releasing a short statement via a friend to Voices, said today (Weds Jan 20): “Peter passed peacefully and without pain at home.

“We have loads of support and would like to pass on our thanks for their kindness and love at this difficult time.”

Mr Rigg, a father-of-two, was a keen member of the former softball games that were played mainly by expats played at Main Beach in 2008-09.

Expats have been reacting to the news on facebook, stating that he was a great guy and passing on their thoughts and condolences to his family.

Lynn Cole, of Didim Help-in-Hands group, told Voices: “We wish to express our deepest regret and sadness at the loss of one of the greatest characters of Didim, Peter Rigg.  I always thought of him as a comical man, not least when he pledged 300tl to throw a bucket of ice water over my head, which we gladly accepted. But I will also remember seeing him on numerous

“But I will also remember seeing him on numerous occasions, when he would ask how we were doing with our group and what project we were supporting and he would always put his hand in his pocket and give us a donation. For me, he was lovely, crazy and kind man and the Champion of Devilment.”