A POLICE probe has been launched after a 20-year-old Dulverton man was trapped and killed under a dumper truck last week.

Dan Whiston, a talented footballer, was working at a private address in Uplowman, near Tiverton, around 2pm last Tuesday when the incident happened.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Devon and Cornwall Police are working with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the incident.

This week Brian Edworthy, chairman of Dulverton Town Football Club, where Dan played in the reserves, paid tribute to “a real character”.

“He always had a massive smile and was one of the lads.

“He was always the first at training and always keen.

“Everyone at the club is just gutted. To think he was there the Saturday before last and now he's gone.”

Dan started playing football from the age of seven with the Dulverton youth team before enjoying a stint for Minehead youth, returning to Dulverton for his senior career.

A two-minute silence was held before the reserves' home game against Staplegrove and flowers were laid on the halfway line, while a silence was also observed at the first team's match away to Bishops Lydeard.

About 100 people, including Dan's family, turned out for the fixture, which his teammates won 7-0.

Dan's shirt will be framed and hung in the clubhouse, he said.

His family declined to comment when contacted by the County Gazette but thanked his football team and everyone who turned out to support them on Saturday through social networking website Facebook.

Friend Joe Rogers wrote: “Still thinking of you each day mate and I'm never going to stop because you were so important to me.”

Dan leaves behind his mum Jackie, dad Simon and older sisters Sam and Hailee.

Leave your tributes to Dan by filling in the Your Say box below.