A teenage boatman killed in a freak accident days after proposing to his girlfriend was the “type of boy you want your daughter to marry”, according to neighbours.

Ben Woollacott died on August 3 when he fell from Woolwich Ferry after trying to untie mooring ropes and was hit by propellers.

The 19-year-old, whose Surbiton-based father runs Cruise London, was in the final year of his apprenticeship when he was killed.

He had got engaged to Jade Humphreys, 18, from Putney, just three days earlier.

Friends of the family have paid fond tribute to the teenager, who came from a long line of boatmen.

Retired Jim Radford, 79, lives next door to Mr Woollacott’s father Stephen, 49, on Hook Road in Surbiton.

He said: “He was a very nice clean cut lad. There was nothing at all yobbish about him.

“If you had a daughter he is the sort of boy you would want her to marry.

“He was a real credit to his father who is also a very good man.”

Mr Radford said the family were “extremely cut up” and finding it “very hard at the moment”.

He said: “It is such a shame what has happened because they are such a nice family.

“He was much too young to die”

Mr Woollacott, from Swanley, Kent, left Bradbourne and Wilderness School in 2008 to pursue a career as a Thames boatman.

According to his Facebook page his favourite sportsman was aspiring UK tennis star Sam Harrison and he also enjoyed the music of rapper Professor Green and dub step singer Katy B.

Woolwich Ferry along with sightseeing river tours by Thames River Services and Crown River Cruises were suspended on Monday so staff could attend Ben’s funeral.

Hundreds of people turned up to pay their respect Mr Woollacott at a funeral held at All Hallows by the Tower Church on Monday afternoon.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is leading an inquiry.

Facebook tributes Since yesterday morning more than 750 people had joined a social network memorial page for Mr Wollacott.

A tribute left on Facebook left by former Tolworth Girls School pupil Amy Mcfarlane simply read: “I love you so much”.

Friend Shane Hayes, who also attended Bradbourne and Wilderness School, wrote: “rest I’m peace ben what a turn out today shows how loved you where and always will be, take care up there mate can't wait to see you again.”

Chloe Howe wrote: “You are soo missed but you will forever live in every ones memories as a charming young handsome cheeky bloke who got taken from us.”

Swanley resident Jessica Stevie-Lee Everest wrote: “We will meet again soon! Party hard together. Miss you like mad and love you loads! Sleep tight babe! R.I.P Ben Woollacott.”

Boat captain Richard Street wrote: “Well today Young Ben, Your Family , Friends , & your River Community come to say Farewell to you young Man.. Farewell but never Forgotten ..!”