Tri-Service

Family Pay Tribute To Scottish Soldier Killed In Miami

The family of Shaun Cole have paid tribute to the British Army Private, killed whilst on holiday.

The soldier, from 1st Battalion the Royal Scottish Regiment, was winding down at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami with friends after a deployment to Sierra Leone.

He'd been in the West African country with the Royal Scots Borderers helping in the fight against the Ebola virus.

A statement released by his family said: "It comes with such regreat that we have had to say goodbye to an amazing son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend.

"An extremely popular young man, he had a flair for life and was always the life and soul of everyone he was around. He was an incredible young man who had his life taken from him too soon.

We ask everyone to respect our privacy to grieve."

Private Cole, who also completed two tours of Afghanistan, was found in the street with severe head injuries on Sunday morning.

Miami Police, who are treating his death as unexplained, say his injuries were caused by blunt force and are not ruling out the possibility he may have been murdered.

Lt Co Matt Munro, Commanding Officer of 1 Scots had this message of tribute to Pte Shaun Cole:

"The men and women of 1 SCOTS are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of Private Shaun Cole.

"Only recently back from helping to battle the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan, Shaun achieved an extraordinary amount in a military career that was full of promise but was tragically cut short. We will miss him terribly.

"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Shaun's family at this desperately difficult time."

Shaun is pictured below receiving Christmas gifts via the 'UK4U Thanks!' charity during his recent deployment to Sierra Leone.