10:12am Tuesday 24th June 2008
By Cherry Thomas
A TREE is to be planted in memory of a man who drowned while trying to save his partner's child.
Andrew Smith died on May 14 after jumping into Anglezarke reservoir to rescue his fiancee's daughter.
He was out walking with Tricia Nowell, aged 33, when 12-year-old Aimee, slipped on a rock and fell into the water.
She managed to get out of the reservoir but Mr Smith, aged 34, disappeared.
His body was recovered later that night.
Now his family want to arrange a permanent tribute to him.
Chris Mather, Mr Smith's eldest nephew, said: "We want to have a tree planted at Rivington which was one of his favourite places.
"We want there to be something in tribute to him and to remind people what he did.
"All the family is extremely proud of Andrew and love and miss him every day.
"I was really close to him and did everything with him.
"He wasn't just my uncle he was my best friend." Other family members have paid tribute to Mr Smith, of First Avenue, Atherton, who worked for distributors Mark Two.
Sheila Smith, Andrew's mother, said: "He would come to see me every week without fail.
"He would do anything for anyone and if he saw anyone in trouble he would be there."
Mr Smith's brother Graham Smith said: "We all love him and we will all miss him so much."
His sister, Joanne Smith described him as "one in a million" and sister, Diane Cunney, as "devoted to his family and very protective."
Sister Jacqueline Mather said: "It is an absolutely massive loss and has left a big hole in our lives."
Mr Smith and Miss Nowell had a seven-year-old daughter, Jodie, and Miss Nowell also has a son, Daniel, aged 14, from a previous relationship.
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