A former Tiffin School student has died while training with the Royal Marines in Egypt.
Lieutenant Damien Moran, 23, died on Saturday, August 3, during adventure training in the eastern city of El Quseir, the Ministry of Defence said.
He had been part of a diving expedition organised by 40 Commando Royal Marines, when an “incident” occurred while Lieutenant Moran was snorkelling on a shallow reef.
He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Further details of the incident that led to the marine’s death have not been revealed.
Born on April 5 1990, Lieutenant Moran – known as “Day” - lived with his family first in Twickenham, then Singapore, before moving to Kingston, where he attended Tiffin School.
He was commissioned into the Royal Marines in September 2011 and passed for duty in December 2012.
He spent four months with serving in Helmand Province as part of Operation Herrick 17, and was in Egypt for his unit’s recovery from the operation.
This week, Lieutenant Moran’s family – mother Gerda, father Brian and brother Aaron - issued a statement paying tribute.
It said: “Day was a unique and exceptional son, brother, partner, cousin, nephew and grandson whose memory will last forever despite the terrible pain of his early loss from our lives.
“His many talents – academic, musical and sporting – were matched by a shining and wonderful personality that radiated far and wide across all who knew him.
“At school Day was an enthusiastic sportsman who especially valued his achievements in the rowing team, where he competed at national level.
“His love of water sports expanded at university to wakeboarding, windsurfing and scuba diving; he also took up boxing, which he continued through the rest of his short life, and which he knew would help prepare him achieve his dream of joining the Royal Marines.
“Adventurous and brilliant as he was, Day’s loving and unassuming self won the respect and admiration of all of us.”
His girlfriend Fiona, added: “Day was a unique, adventurous and selfless man and his energetic positivity shone through in everything he did.
“He was an inspiration to myself and all that knew him. Profoundly loved by myself, family and friends, you will always be in our hearts.”
Major Joe Winch, Officer Commanding Bravo Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines said: “For those under his command Day inspired absolute confidence and a fierce loyalty, there were no limits to the efforts he made to lead his people, nor the lengths his people would go to achieving his objectives.
“His service, sacrifice, and command was exemplary.”
Did you know Lieutenant Damien Moran? Leave your tributes below.
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