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British Soldier Killed At Miami Music Festival

British Soldier Killed At Miami Music Festival

A British soldier has been killed while attending a music festival on holiday in Miami.

Private Shaun Cole, from Edinburgh, is thought to have been at the Ultra Music Festival with friends.

US media outlets are reporting that the 22-year-old died as a result of a head injury on Sunday and police say they are investigating the circumstances of the death.

The Army confirmed the death of Pte Cole, who served in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1SCOTS).

A statement released by his family said: "It comes with such regret that we have had to say goodbye to an amazing son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend.

"An extremely popular young man, he had a flair for life and was always the life and soul of everyone he was around. He was an incredible young man who had his life taken from him too soon.

"We ask everyone to respect our privacy to grieve."

An army statement said Pte Cole had recently returned from Sierra Leone, where soldiers have been involved in the Ebola aid effort, and had also served in Afghanistan.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Matt Munro said Pte Cole will be "missed terribly".

"The men and women of 1 SCOTS are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of Private Shaun Cole," the commanding officer said.

"Only recently back from helping to battle the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan, Shaun achieved an extraordinary amount in a military career that was full of promise but was tragically cut short. We will miss him terribly.

"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Shaun's family at this desperately difficult time."

The three-day festival is popular with dance music fans, with Tiesto, David Guetta, and Armin van Buuren among this year's headline acts.