Scotland prospect in holiday tragedy

Published on Tuesday 15 September 2009 22:51

A SCOTTISH cricket club is in mourning after one of its leading players was found dead in Turkey.

David Bradshaw, 27, was halfway through a two-week holiday with his girlfriend and her family when tragedy struck.

It's understood the Australian-born wicketkeeper, who lived in Edinburgh and had been tipped to play for Scotland, was discovered drowned.

However, the Turkish authorities will not release details until after an autopsy is held today.

Mr Bradshaw's stunned Corstorphine team-mates were given the tragic news as they returned home from the Murgitroyd Twenty20 Cup in Glasgow on Sunday, where they lost on the final to Greenock.

Club president Arnie Sathiy revealed: "We got a call from one of David's flatmates on Sunday evening breaking the terrible news. Apparently he was found dead at around 10am just as we were starting a cup semi-final but his friend waited until he knew we had finished playing before telling us.

"The tournament we were playing in had been cancelled a few weeks earlier because of rain otherwise David would have been playing. He was desperate to take part but had already booked the holiday with his girlfriend.

"All the police are saying is that he was found on Sunday morning and he had drowned but we expect more information tomorrow."

Following the post-mortem Mr Bradshaw's body will be flown to Melbourne where he will be buried beside his mother who died several years ago.

Mr Sathiy added: "David came over to play cricket with us in 2006 and liked the club and Edinburgh so much that he stayed. He would have qualified to play for Scotland next season and we had high hopes that he might be given a chance – he was that good.

"Everybody connected with Corstorphine Cricket Club is completely stunned. David was a very well liked and fun-loving bloke." As a mark of respect the club has cancelled its annual dinner which was due to be held on 3 October.