JUST a few days ago, Gareth Parker told his friend and coach, Winnie Rawstorne, not to book his ticket to the south of France where he was due to play in the summer tournaments. Something was bound to go wrong, he joked.
The young tennis player had been dogged by injury in recent years. But as he headed for Belfast to say goodbye to his family before his French tour, the future looked brighter than it ever had.
"Gareth had always wanted to be a professional tennis player but everything that could go wrong went wrong," Winnie said. "This year, things were finally starting to go his way. He was going to play the `money tournaments' in the south of France in August.
"He wanted to prove to himself that he was a good player. This tournament would help him decide what to do with his future. He was in the prime of life. He had found the first important love of his life. He was very happy."
Gareth's girlfriend, Jane, was due to return from a holiday in Paris yesterday. Gareth had decided to spend the weekend she was away with his family and friends in Belfast. He had not been able to return to his home town very often recently and wanted to see his parents, Greer and Frances, before the season began.
The third of five children, Gareth had always loved tennis. His father, Greer, is also a tennis coach and was particularly proud when his young son was chosen by the tennis academy at the Riverview Club in Clonskeagh, Dublin. In return for professional coaching at the academy, he taught younger children how to play the game.
Despite injury trouble, he was one of Ireland's top players. He trained every day with his best friend, Irish Olympic contestant Scott Barrow.
He lived with the Rawstorne family who run the club. "He was like a second son to us," Winnie said. "When he first came he was a bit shy but over the last five years he really came out of himself. He was very popular at the club, everyone liked him. He was a good guitar player and singer, everyone wanted to be with him.
"It is such a waste," she said.