THE father of Super League star Danny Tickle has died in an accident abroad.

Golborne man Keith Tickle, whose younger son Danny is a second row forward with Wigan Warriors, drowned while working in Israel.

Mr Tickle had been working on a Middle East pipeline project and, after work, he and his boss had gone to take a cooling dip in the sea. But after diving in Mr Tickle failed to resurface.

Attempts to resuscitate him failed after he was pulled from the water.

The Tickle family is well-known in Golborne and Keith's brother, Dave, is first team coach with Golborne Parkside ARLFC, where Danny's brother, Keith junior also plays.

Parkside Golborne club official John Prince was reluctant to talk about the tragedy because of his concern for the grieving family.

He said: "The club and the whole of Golborne is in shock. Keith's is a well-known and well-loved family in our community and we all share in their grief. Our condolences go to his wife, Marie, and family.

"Danny played for us before signing for Halifax and then Wigan and often came down with his dad to watch our games. He played last Friday night because that is what his dad would have wanted him to do - Keith was Danny's biggest fan."