HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a “funny” young man who was found dead in the street after a night out with friends.

Tommy-Lee Harvey, 25, from Shoebury, was found in Johnstone Road, Thorpe Bay, in the early hours of the morning last week.

His grieving mother, Lesley Harvey, says she was in total disbelief when police officers went to her at 4am to inform her about the incident.

Miss Harvey said that tests on his body are ongoing, but it is looking likely that he took his own life.

He had spent the night visiting various venues in Southend, and was “fine and happy” when he left his home on Monday, June 20.

Echo:

Miss Harvey said: “He looked happy and very smart and relaxed when he left. We can’t make sense of it all and we don’t know what happened between him leaving his friends and being found.

“The hospitals are still doing tests but indications do point to him sadly taking his own life.

“There were no signs of anything like this or him being down or feeling depressed, that night or in recent times.

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“When the police came I was in disbelief and thought they had made a mistake. It didn’t really hit me until other family members went to identify him.

“We are coping and just have to carry on and have to cope.”

The mother-of-three insisted she now wants to help other people who may be struggling but not speaking out, as she paid tribute to her “polite and quiet” son.

Miss Harvey said: “He was happy that night and that’s how I want to remember him. At home he was quiet and polite and very messy.

He was the messiest kid I have ever known.

“He worked at Caddies in Southend and I’ve been told at work he was very funny and comical and would jump out and surprise people.

“He was private and he loved gaming and had the virtual reality headset, and he also had lots of friends online too.

“Music was a big passion for him too and loved all sorts of music including eighties. He had such a diverse range in his music taste.

“He would something be singing around the house and he had started running and going to the gym too.”