The well-loved violist and music teacher has drowned while on a school excursion near Alice Springs.

Tributes have been pouring in for well-loved violist and music teacher Paul Leggett, a teacher at Centralian Middle School, who drowned while on a school excursion at Ellery Creek Big Hole, west of Alice Springs. Leggett was swimming when he appeared to get a cramp and failed to resurface, according to a report on ntnews.com.au. His body was recovered by divers on Wednesday after a day of searching.

“I understand he was swimming, went under water, came back up, its alleged he had a cramp and then went under the water again,” said NT Police Deputy Commissioner Kate Vanderlaan.

Tributes have been flowing in for the 48-year-old musician, who has performed with orchestras in Melbourne and taught students around the country. “He was a great violinist, a happy guy and quite upbeat,” said double bass player Kenny Glaze. “From his middle school students, to his live music in local cafes, to the folk festivals and the high brow southern orchestras, he’ll be sorely missed,” said Alice Springs-based singer-songwriter Barry Skipsey.

“Paul Leggett will be missed by many, as a passionate and talented (albeit quirky) musician,” said the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic – with home Leggett played for many years – in a statement on their Facebook page, “who cared deeply about sharing music with his peers, and who was a champion of music education, and who devoted much of his working life to passing on his musical knowledge and talent to children all around Australia.”