U.K.-based band Friendly Fires announced Friday that trumpet player Richard Turner, who performed live with the U.K. rockers for three years, died last week after going into cardiac arrest while swimming. He was 27.

"He was an utterly exceptional musician and his contributions to our shows will be hugely missed," the band said in a statement on their website. "He was also an accomplished and admired composer."

According to his best friend, who spoke to the London Evening Standard, Turner was a strong swimmer and was at an open air pool in South London last Thursday when lifeguards became alarmed by his appearance. He later died at King's College Hospital.

"The lifeguards could see something was wrong," Eddy Hackett said. "They immediately pulled him out of the water and did their best to save his life. Three ambulances arrived within four minutes and they did everything they could."

Turner recently released an album with the band Round Trip.

In their comments, the band lightheartedly adds that while on tour, Turner was the envy of the band for being able to fall asleep anywhere at any time. "RIP to an unbelievable musician and friend," they said.

It's been a bad week for Friendly Fires, who were at the Pukkelpop festival when a wind and hail storm ripped through the grounds, killing at least five people. "Chateau stage decimated. Just took 15 minutes of chaos. Unbelievable," they said on Twitter.