Asphyxia is cause of death of British Royal Navy sailor: Seychelles police releases autopsy results

Bouquet of flowers laid at the site where the body of the 22-year-old British marine engineer Charles Warrender was found last Saturday. (Patrick Joubert, Seychelles News Agency)

(Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles police has reported that autopsy results show that the Royal Navy Sailor who was found dead in the island nation’s capital of Victoria last weekend “died as a result of asphyxia.”

The 22-year old British national, identified as Charles Warrender, was working onboard the British Royal Navy frigate, HMS Richmond.

Warrender was found dead at the site of the former Children’s playground in the early morning of Saturday June 1.

This was the day after the visiting vessel had hosted a reception organized by the British High Commission to celebrate the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, in Port Victoria.

“Medical examinations have also shown no evidence of assault on the 22 year old engineer,” reads the police statement issued this afternoon.

“No evidence of foul play has been established in that case since investigations started last Saturday.”

The Seychelles police has confirmed to SNA that the autopsy on Warrender’s body was carried out yesterday.

The post-mortem is said to have been performed by “both the local medical authority and an independent foreign forensic pathologist.” 

The nationality of the foreign forensic pathologist was not disclosed.

According to the police, the body of 22-year old Charles Warrender has already been handed over to his family.

Meanwhile, the Seychelles police has indicated that further tests are being performed to establish what caused Warrender to die from asphyxia.

"...different samples of his vital organs, together with that of stomach content, blood and urine have already left the country for further analysis abroad...Result of such will be communicated upon completion of the analysis."

story updated at 6.45pm