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Ex-marine's Kenya death 'unexplained' | Ex-marine's Kenya death 'unexplained' |
(32 minutes later) | |
A former Royal Marine working on anti-piracy security died after a night ashore in Kenya in unexplained circumstances, an inquest heard. | A former Royal Marine working on anti-piracy security died after a night ashore in Kenya in unexplained circumstances, an inquest heard. |
Benjamin Ryalls, 34, was fit and healthy when he died in a tuk-tuk on the way to his ship in Mombasa in 2012. | Benjamin Ryalls, 34, was fit and healthy when he died in a tuk-tuk on the way to his ship in Mombasa in 2012. |
His family said they felt let down by the British government, while Kenyan authorities had withheld information and toxicology results. | His family said they felt let down by the British government, while Kenyan authorities had withheld information and toxicology results. |
Exeter coroner Philip Spinney said no injuries were found on Mr Ryalls. | Exeter coroner Philip Spinney said no injuries were found on Mr Ryalls. |
Mr Ryalls' father Dennis told the inquest the family felt they had been "fobbed off" and not treated fairly by the government, which he described as "inept". | Mr Ryalls' father Dennis told the inquest the family felt they had been "fobbed off" and not treated fairly by the government, which he described as "inept". |
"Our lives fell apart that day. We just want closure but we will never give up," he said. | "Our lives fell apart that day. We just want closure but we will never give up," he said. |
The government did not help the family get answers from the Kenyan authorities, he added. | The government did not help the family get answers from the Kenyan authorities, he added. |
The inquest heard Mr Ryalls, from Bideford, north Devon, served in the Royal Marines for seven years and was a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. | The inquest heard Mr Ryalls, from Bideford, north Devon, served in the Royal Marines for seven years and was a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. |
His father, 71, said a taxi driver had been seen with his son's wallet in his hand and a considerable amount of money was taken from it. | His father, 71, said a taxi driver had been seen with his son's wallet in his hand and a considerable amount of money was taken from it. |
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At the hearing, he questioned whether his son, who had been working off the coast of Somalia at the time, had been "drugged and robbed in a nightclub" before a taxi ride back to his ship. | At the hearing, he questioned whether his son, who had been working off the coast of Somalia at the time, had been "drugged and robbed in a nightclub" before a taxi ride back to his ship. |
A post-mortem examination by British pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery could not ascertain the cause of death. | A post-mortem examination by British pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery could not ascertain the cause of death. |
Mr Spinney said attempts to engage with the Kenyan authorities had proved unsuccessful. | Mr Spinney said attempts to engage with the Kenyan authorities had proved unsuccessful. |
The coroner added there was no evidence the former commando had been assaulted and recorded an open conclusion. | The coroner added there was no evidence the former commando had been assaulted and recorded an open conclusion. |
Mr Ryalls has visited Kenya to try to find the truth about his son's death and is trying to save from his pension to visit again. | Mr Ryalls has visited Kenya to try to find the truth about his son's death and is trying to save from his pension to visit again. |
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