Inquest held into death of Prudhoe navy engineer who died in Barbados

The tribute comes after an inquest into the death of Benjamin (Ben) Peter Burgess, of Prudhoe, was heard at Northallerton Coroner's Court.

The body of the 25-year-old, formerly of Ilkley, West Yorkshire, was found in the sea at Oistins, Christ Church, Barbados, on April 10, 2019.

Ben was on shore leave when he was found dead. His working pattern was three months in the Caribbean and home for a further three-months.

The sitting coroner, Jonathan Leach, recorded an open conclusion, leaving it unclear how Ben's body entered the sea.

"It was an expected result", Ben's partner Rebecca Pattinson said after the inquest.

"I feel friends and family won’t ever fully get the closure as we’ll never 100 per cent know what happened that night."

Rebecca believes that Ben must have fallen, knocked himself out and then fell into the water. A post-mortem found Ben had died from a head injury and drowning.

'Pirate Ben', as he was known to friends for his work on the boats, moved to Prudhoe after meeting Rebecca with whom he had picked out engagement rings as they had planned to spend the rest of their lives together. 

Rebecca Pattinson and Ben Burgess (Image: Public)

At the time of his death, the couple had been saving up for a deposit to buy their first house together.

She said: "Ben was just happy all the time, life of the party. A proper down-to-earth, genuine person with such a positive outlook on life.

"To pay tribute to Ben, myself and his friends usually have a rum in his memory, especially on anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas. I'm grateful for having Ben in my life and for having the support I do."