A 26-YEAR-OLD man who died in Cambodia while swimming underwater had swum several lengths before failing to surface, an inquest heard.

Former Ilkley Grammar school student Luke Walley died on February 5 in the pool near his home in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned for further inquiries to take place.

Bradford Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Whalley, who was living in the Khan Boeung Keng Kang area of the city, was seen swimming underwater for several lengths before failing to surface. He was removed from the pool by other gym users and CPR was carried out

He was pronounced dead at 7.40pm and a statement from the British Embassy outlined his cause of death as drowning.