Huddersfield soldier Matty Bermingham drowned on a holiday island, it has been revealed.
An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of the Yorkshire Regiment soldier.
The 21-year-old single man, whose permanent address was Eton Avenue, Dalton, was reported as Absent without Leave from his barracks in Wiltshire, earlier this year.
He had finished his six-month basic training earlier in the and was serving as a Yorkshire Regiment soldier.
Mr Bermingham had worked in a series of jobs including Black Cat Fireworks in Huddersfield before enlisting.
He completed his six-month basic training and then joined the Regiment’s Corunna Company a few months ago at the regiment’s base in Warminster, Wiltshire.
Coroners officer Steve Hepplestone told the inquest in Bradford this morning that he had gone missing from February 2.
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Mr Hepplestone told Assistant Coroner Mary Burke that Mr Bermingham was found dead on a beach at El Cabecito, Arona, Costa Adeje, Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
A post mortem was carried out at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Santa Cruz which revealed the cause of death to be mechanical asphyxia due to drowning.
Mr Hepplestone explained that the deceased had initially been identified by tattoos and clothing and this had subsequently been confirmed by DNA evidence.
Mrs Burke adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.
No members of his family or regiment were present at the brief hearing.
Mr Bermingham was a keen Huddersfield Town fan and also played for a local soccer club Town Rangers.
The club have reached the finals of the West Riding FA County Trophy and pledged to win the cup to dedicate to Matty and to another former plaver, Gavin Greig.
