Basketball star dies on 21st birthday

A BODY found in the QEII Marina yesterday was that of a local man who had been celebrating his 21st birthday. He was identified by police as bar worker Sam Warren and investigations into his death are continuing.

Officers want anyone who saw him between 12.30 and 6am yesterday to contact them. He was last seen in the Tourgand area at 12.30am.

'It is possible that Sam was either sitting or lying on the sea wall on Glategny Esplanade between these times,' said Detective Inspector Phil Breban.

Mr Warren, who had played basketball for the Guernsey under-21s, was about 6ft 10in tall and was wearing blue jeans, a white striped shirt and brown shoes.

He was discovered in the water, clothed, but apparently minus his shoes, at about 6am.

After finishing his shift behind the bar at The Dorset Arms - where he had worked since February - at 5pm he went into Town to meet friends and celebrate his birthday, said licensee James Jackson. He spent the evening in Town bars with friends.

'I saw him later from about 9.30 until about 12. I last saw him at about 12 in BarBados. I left before him,' said Mr Jackson.

Family, friends, pub regulars, management and staff were trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

'We are all deeply shocked - both staff and customers. Everybody loved him and he was a really great lad,' said Mr Jackson.

Mr Warren had been a pupil at the Grammar School and its head teacher, Dennis Balls, said: 'My sympathy goes out to his family and friends. It's such a shame when somebody dies at such a young age.

'Quite a number of staff will remember teaching him. He was a very pleasant boy who left at 17 after his AS-levels.

'I have pleasant memories of him. He got on well with other people and was well liked. He was a really tall boy for his age and was a good basketball player.'

Mr Warren also used to work at The Harbour Lights and, before that, at Safeway.

Basketball coach, Adam Farish, 28, said: 'He was always a fun, bright lad to be around. I coached him for only one season but after that he always went out of his way to say hello and have a chat.

'He was a very popular guy and everybody recognised him because of his height.

'It's a total shock. He was a really nice, polite guy and he will be a sad loss. My heart and all of those involved in basketball send their best wishes and condolences to his family.'

Mr Warren made headlines as a schoolboy after he was involved in a serious accident while cycling to school. He was involved in a collision with the back of a van and sustained serious cuts to his face and neck.

* Anybody with any information about Mr Warren in the period leading up to his death is urged to contact the CID on 725111.