Former champion bodybuilder drowns

The tragedy happened in Los Angeles

A former Mr Wales has drowned in Los Angeles while on tour with a male voice choir.

Emyr Jones, who was 32, was one of 40 young men who set off for the tour of America with the specially-formed Black Mountain Male Choir.

But he was found dead in a hotel swimming pool on the first day the choir arrived in California.

His death is being investigated by Los Angeles police but it is being treated as an accident.

Choir leader Mike Evans said the 10-week tour would continue in tribute to Emyr.

The choir is doing its first concert today and the guys have decided to do it for Emyr.

Mike Evans

Mr Jones, from Pwll, Llanelli, was super-fit and was crowned Mr Wales in 1992.

The same year he founded the Centaur male dance troupe - who staged Chippendale-style strip shows across Britain.

But Emyr left three years later and his main hobby was his first love of singing in male voice choirs.

The choir formed especially for a 10-week tour of America.

It only left for Los Angeles last Friday.

Tribute

Leader Mr Evans said: "I know that Emyr was looking forward greatly to this tour."

"Everyone in the choir is in deep shock."

"It has been very traumatic. The choir is doing its first concert today and the guys have decided to do it for Emyr."

"When the choir arrived here Emyr and some of the others went into the hotel pool and there was a tragic accident."

Investigation

Mr Evans said the Los Angeles coroner was investigating, along with the British Consulate and the Los Angeles police department.

The outcome of the investigation is expected on Tuesday.

A Dyfed-Powys police spokesman said Mr Jones' parents, who were on holiday, had been informed of the death.

The choir was formed nearly four years ago and has toured America on two previous occasions.