‘He had a fine career ahead of him’: army pays tribute to river death soldier
Signaller Stephen Charles Fry, aged 20, was a serving soldier based at Imphal Barracks in York. He was originally from Surrey.
His identity was made public on Monday (July 13).
Lt Col Ian Hargreaves, commanding officer 2 Signal Regiment, paid tribute to Signaller Fry.
He arrived in York last year after qualifying as a communications systems operator. Lt Col Hargreaves said:
He approached every military challenge with confidence, intelligence and good humour.
Having made a great start in the Royal Corps of Signals, he had the prospects of a fine career ahead of him.
A hugely popular soldier, everyone in the regiment will miss him.
Inquest date set
An inquest into Stephen’s death is due to open on Wednesday (July 15) at 1.45pm, at the Folk Hall, New Earswick, York.
Police were first alerted to the fact that a man had entered the water near the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall last Wednesday (July 8) at 11.40pm after a witness contacted them.
They began a river search. But it wasn’t until the following day at about midday that the underwater search team recovered the body.