THE family of a man who was killed when a wall collapsed on him while volunteering in Chippenham have paid tribute to him.

Peter Konitzer was volunteering for the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust at Pewsham Locks to restore part of the canal when the wall fell on the 63-year-old last Wednesday at 12.30pm, killing him instantly.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years Margot, from whom he was separated, son William, 35, Amy, 32, and two grandchildren Oliver, aged four, and Imogen, aged one, as well as his partner Maura Ryan, with whom he had been living on Foghamshire in Chippenham for a year.

Mr Konitzer’s daughter, Amy Lapsevska, said: “I was close to my dad and he was just a really fun, nice guy and it’s a real tragedy.

“Most people knew him as being quite witty and he was well-known for his jokes.

“He did really love the outside and he really believed in the canal trust.

“He was going down there, not every day, but most days on a regular basis.

“The canal trust have been really good. I can’t fault them and they have dealt with it in the most appropriate way.

“He was really happy. He’d been on holiday to the Peak District and when he came back he said it was the perfect holiday, brilliant weather, nice company.

“I got married last year and he gave me away. It was the perfect day and in some ways I feel like he achieved everything he needed to in life.”

Mr Konitzer was a retired petroleum reservoir engineer and petroleum economist and spent time working in Libya.

He had been volunteering for the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust since March this year.

A statement from the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust said: “The trust would like to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our volunteer.

“We would also like to thank the emergency services who responded so rapidly and gave such care to our volunteers at the scene.

“The trust is co-operating fully with the investigations carried out by the HSE and the police to establish the background to this tragedy and any lessons we need to learn from it.

“The trust is also providing support for the other volunteers who were on site and for family and friends.”

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by the police. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

“We are carrying out a full investigation into this incident alongside the Health and Safety Executive to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the death.

“H M Coroner for Wiltshire has been informed and will be made aware of the outcome of the investigation in due course.”