An inquest into the death of Rasmus Weinhardt whose decapitated body was discovered in the sea will take place today.

The 61-year-old who lived in Clanwilliam Road in Deal was pulled from the water on Monday, May 29, after it is believed he jumped from the pier.

In a tribute, his friend Samuel Moore, from Dover, described him as a “hippy” with “the kindest soul”.

He said: “Raz was a hippy and the most confident man. He didn’t care how people took him.

“From the day I met him we were friends. He took an anxious, scared little boy and showed him how to be a proud man.

“He never had his head down and was always smiling. He found beauty in everything and was such an influence.

“We’d spend hours talking about everything from the Smurfs to Game of Thrones.

“There aren’t enough words. The stories he told me and the life he lived. Teacher, guru., kindest soul, friend.”

Originally from Essen, Germany, it is understood Mr Weinhardt was a factory worker
who had moved to England in 2000.

When asked by Mr Moore a little while ago if he would go back to Germany, his words were: “I’m too English now.”

He never married nor did he have children but children loved him, said Mr Moore.

He worked in care for a short time, giving young people a passion for cooking.

Towards the end of 2016, he secured a job with produce company Gomez. He had applied for some translator work but was unsuccessful.

In recent years he became interested in Viking history.

Mr Moore said: “He got into Vikings a few years ago. He read a lot of the mythology and ways of living. You could ask him about any part of Viking culture and he could tell you.

“He was also inspired a lot by Hindu culture. He identified as a Hindu, from the Shiva-atra.

“Mostly he would just say he was a free-thinking hippy.”

Mr Weinhardt had also started writing a book.

Mr Moore added: “From what he told me it was going to be something really amazing.”

The inquest will be at Canterbury Magistrates Court at 3.30pm.