
Body of 'caring' soldier, 25, found in Menai Strait hours after he went missing
Stephen Hughes, a soldier in the Royal Welsh regiment of the British Army, was reported missing from Bethel in Gwynedd, Wales, at around 8.30pm on 12 August, police said.
His body was found three hours later in the Menai Strait between Anglesey and the mainland of north Wales.
North Wales Police Chief Inspector Jon Aspinall said: "My thoughts are with Stephen's family, who are being supported by officers. The coroner has been updated, and there are thought to be no suspicious circumstances."
Mr Hughes had helped set up a support group for men on Facebook called Lads' Advice, offering help to those struggling with their mental health.
A post was shared by a friend announcing the soldier's passing.
"Steve was a founding member of the team and leaves a huge gap. We're honestly devastated," the friend said.
He added: "RIP Steve. You were one of the kindest, most genuine and caring blokes I've met. You will be sorely missed. Until the final RV brother."
A former army comrade also praised what a "great lad" Mr Hughes was.

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BBC News
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Parents reveal 'gaping hole' left by death of daughter, 14, who died on children's mental health ward when Ghanaian agency worker with fake ID left her unsupervised
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In an emotional statement after the inquest, Ruth's parents, Kate and Mark, both doctors, said: 'There is an empty space at our table, a silent bedroom in our home, a gaping hole in our family that will never be filled. 'Ruth was an incredible, bright, friendly, loving, and adventurous girl with a whole life of joy ahead of her. Today an inquest jury returned a conclusion of unlawful killing. In an emotional statement after the inquest, Ruth's parent's Kate and Mark (pictured) said: There is 'a gaping hole in our family that will never be filled' 'When, at our most vulnerable as a family, we reached out for help, we ultimately found ourselves trapped in a system that was meant to care for her, to help her, to keep her safe, but instead locked her away and harmed her.' They said while at Huntercombe, Ruth was denied access to the love and support of her family, and left 'isolated, scared and alone'. 'She was essentially caged' and 'withdrew more into herself as she tried to navigate and survive months in a poorly trained, understaffed, and unsafe ward. 'She was trapped. With no one to comfort her, no one to try to alleviate her suffering, no one to cuddle.' They said that while the conduct of the worker who left Ruth alone was shocking, there were 'numerous systemic failures' and it was 'paramount that the other wider and more important issues are acknowledged and addressed'. The ward was missing at least half of its staff on the day Ruth, who had self-harmed several times in the past, was left unsupervised. Mr Acheampong was originally working on a different ward, but was asked to join the team because they were so short-staffed nurses could not go on breaks. Ruth, who had to be kept within eyesight at all times, was able to lock herself in her bedroom on the psychiatric intensive care unit where she self-harmed. She died two days later at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. 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Times
2 hours ago
- Times
Teenage girl left alone on mental health ward was killed unlawfully
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