A lonely pensioner has become a selfie celebrity after going on holiday to Benidorm alone following his wife’s death.
Derek Flynn has been snapped all over the Spanish tourist hotspot and a friend has told the Mirror he is having the time of his life.
The 86-year-old former miner is due to fly back to the UK on Monday.
Pal Nigel Hobdey, 61, helped the pensioner book the trip and even drove him to Manchester Airport on February 5.
The pair first met six months ago in a betting shop where they both live in Rhyl, Wales, and after Nigel returned from a trip to Benidorm Derek said he wished he could go again.
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Derek took the trip after his wife died (Facebook)
He asked a friend to help him book it (Facebook)He had taken many trips over the years to the holiday destination with his late wife, and enjoys singing karaoke in the bars.
But after her death during the pandemic he had grown lonely, living on his own.
Nigel said: “I’m just happy I could make his dreams come true.
"As far as I know, he's living the life of Riley."
After Nigel posted asking people to look out for him, Derek has proved popular (Facebook)
He has been nicknamed 'Benidorm Derek' (Facebook)Nigel posted on Facebook the day before Derek’s trip to ask anyone who spots his friend to “say hello” and look out for him.
The post was then shared on group Benidorm Seriously - which boasts 162.4k followers - and suddenly everyone in the resort wanted a picture with him.
“I even saw a message today from a fella saying he wants his 80-year-old mother to meet up with Derek so they can go on holiday together,” said Nigel.
Derek was out singing until the early hours on his first night (Facebook)“Everywhere he goes he’s getting attention. People have said he looks like Robert DeNiro.”
Nigel said as soon as Derek arrived he met people in his hotel and has been out every day “living it up”.
"I didn't know it was going to take off as big as this when I posted it.
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Derek flew out on February 5 (Facebook)
Derek and his wife used to enjoy holidays to Benidorm together (Facebook)"He loves singing in the bars and people are going up to him, and they're saying 'you alright?' - they're looking after him."
Nigel insists Derek, despite being occasionally forgetful, is of sound mind and is "having a ball" making new friends.
"Some people are saying you shouldn't have done it, he's vulnerable blah blah blah.
Nigel said people are keeping him informed on Derek's activities (Facebook)"With Derek, there's people looking out for him all the time, walking him back to the hotel, he's got eyes and ears out there everywhere.
"And these hotels are like old people homes, they look out for you.
"People are saying what's he doing sat with six girls having a drink? I said, I tell you, what about you? You're sat at home watching Tipping Point and eating a packet of crisps and he's out there with women.
"I know who's the poor guy there. There's people out there wishing they were Derek."
Derek with some tourists in the holiday hotspot (Facebook)Nigel said Derek will often go into his local travel agent and have a conversation with staff for half an hour then walk out without booking anything.
"He's like a tyre kicker. I went to Benidorm and he said 'I wish I'd come with you now'. He said 'my dream is to go back to Benidorm but I've got no-one to go with. Could I cope on my own'?'"
Nigel found Derek a hotel online and they booked it together and he agreed to take him to the airport if he paid for petrol.
Derek has made plenty of friends (Facebook)They booked a Jet2 assistance package which meant "they stick to you like glue from A to B".
"They looked after him," he added.
A woman later commented on Nigel's post saying Derek had arrived safe and well at her hotel.
"Then I get a message at 1 o'clock in the morning. Ping! Derek's singing in one of the bars," he explained.
"I thought bloody hell!"
Nigel said people then started forming an entourage for his friend to make sure he's okay on nights out and "everywhere he goes he's being asked for selfies".
"He's Benidorm Derek."
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