FRIENDS of the Leyland student who died during a diving trip last week have been placing tributes on a university internet site.

Jeremy Boothroyd died after he started experiencing breathing difficulties while diving in Coniston Water last Friday. Despite efforts by friends Chris Agar to resuscitate him at the lakeside, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 32-year-old was a student at Lancaster University, where he was studying for a PhD in Computer Science.

Since hearing about his death, college pals have left emotional tributes to the former Wellfield High School pupil Jeremy on the university internet site.

One note posted on the site from a friend, who signed off as Ste, read: "The day of submitting a thesis should be a happy day. But, for me it has been sadly marred by my hearing of the untimely death of Jez Boothroyd.

"Jez had been a good friend over the two years I'd known him, always cracking a joke and bringing a smile to my face on those days when everything seemed to be going wrong.

"He had an immense passion for diving and somehow every conversation always found it's way round to talking about the subject. It always great to see the spark in his eyes when they talk about something they really love."

He added: "I saw him and Chris on Monday. They were as enthusiastic as ever of the prospect of again plumbing the murky depths - unfortunately one of them didn't make it back."

Jeremy's mother Mavis, of Sandy Lane, Leyland, continues to be comforted at her home by friends.

An inquest was opened in to his death on Tuesday in Barrow. A date for the funeral has yet to be set.

A spokesman for Lancaster University said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Jeremy's family and friends and wish Chris a speedy recovery."

Get Well messages to Chris, of Bolton-le-Sands, have also been posted at the internet site.

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