A Royal Navy rugby player found dead on a beach in northern France during an international competition has been named as Steffan Rees.
The 29-year-old Able Seaman, from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales was reported missing after he disappeared on Tuesday in the town of Dinard, in Brittany, northern France, while in the region for a rugby tournament between armed forces from across the world.
Around the same time that the alarm was raised, his body was discovered on the French town’s rocky coastline.
An autopsy was conducted on Wednesday and French prosecutors believe that Mr Rees died after accidentally falling from a height of several metres onto the rocks below.
Tributes have been paid to the fallen serviceman by friends on social media – and his team says it will continue to play on in the World Defence Rugby competition in his memory.
Able Seaman Steffan Rees, from Aberystwyth, was found dead in Dinard on Tuesday
Police were called to the coastline in the town in the northern French region of Brittany after his body was discovered on the rocky coastline
The Royal Navy said it was working with the French authorities and extended its sympathy to Mr Rees’ loved ones.
It said in a statement: ‘We can confirm the death of Royal Navy sailor, Able Seaman Steffan Rees of Aberystwyth. Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family and friends.
‘We continue to assist the French authorities with their investigations and therefore are unable to comment further.’
Tributes were paid to the Navy man, who also played for local team Aberystwyth RFC, by friends on social media.
One wrote: ‘RiP Steff boy. Got some really good childhood memories with Steff and the Aber lads. Thoughts go out to his friends and family.’
Another said: ‘RIP Steff. Thoughts are with your family, friends and team-mates. A great servant for Aberystwyth RFC for many seasons.’
A fellow Navy man added: ‘Fair winds and following seas brother…See you on the other side.’
Mr Rees was playing for the Combined Services team in the World Defence Rugby tournament, which brings together military teams from 12 allied nations for friendly competition.
The championship is being played in 26 Brittany venues until September 10, and features 500 players and staff.
The British team has said it will continue to compete in the wake of the tragedy, ‘in tribute’ to their fallen comrade.
In a statement, World Defence Rugby said: ‘The organisers of the 2023 international defence rugby competition, the Western Defence and Security Zone, the Centre National des Sports de la Defense and the Brittany Regional Rugby League, join with the UK Armed Forces in mourning the death of a member of their team during the competition earlier this week.
‘The entire rugby and military sports community has come together to offer its most fraternal support to the family of the British serviceman, his loved ones and his team-mates.
‘The British team has decided to continue the competition in tribute to his comrade. We would like to express our sympathy and solidarity to his team-mates and wish them every success.’
Organisers of the World Defence Rugby Tournament in Brittany say the British team will continue to play ‘in tribute’ to Mr Rees
In their most recent match, Britain beat Spain in the final group-stage encounter and go on to play Fiji in the semi-final on Sunday.
While prosecutors have not drawn a conclusive picture of what happened in the hours before his death, prosecutors say that he suffered several fractures that suggested he fell from height.
Initial enquiries conducted by local police, including the gathering of CCTV footage, led detectives to conclude that he may have been intoxicated.
Local prosecutor Fabrice Tremel said: ‘Questioning of several witnesses and video surveillance images show the victim was behaving, on the night of August 28, in a way that suggested he was quite drunk.’
He added that the injuries sustained by the player were ‘in line with a fall of several metres.’
Mr Tremel concluded: ‘At the current stage of investigation the most likely scenario is an accidental fall.’
Two team coaches confirmed Mr Rees’ identity. The team has been based in Dinard during the competition.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk