AN oil tanker engineer for the merchant navy who was originally from Ilkley but spent some time in Eastby has died on shore leave in Barbados.

Ben Burgess, 25, was reported in the Barbados Today paper to have been pulled from the water just off the jetty of the Berinda Cox Fish Market, at Oistins, Christ Church, on April 10.

His family has released the following statement:

Ben Burgess was serving as 3rd engineer in the merchant navy.

Ben was originally from Ilkley and went to Prince Henry grammar school, in Otley.

He moved to Eastby in North Yorkshire, went to South Shields to study marine engineering at South Shields Maritime College, then to reside in Prudhoe, Northumberland.

He leaves his father, mother, brother, girlfriend, families and many friends.

Funeral arrangements to be announced at a later date.