An inquest has opened into the death of a 20-year-old man who drowned while on holiday with his family.

Felix Lewis, from Clare Road, Whitstable, was in Croatia when he went for a swim.

His parents noticed he was unresponsive in the water and pulled him back to the beach where, despite attempts to resuscitate him, he tragically died.

A post-mortem ascribed the cause of death to immersion in water, the inquest opening at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone heard on Friday.

The full inquest for Felix, who had studied fashion at Manchester University, will be held on Monday, December 16, at 10.30am at the Archbishop's Palace.

KentOnline previously reported how Felix's mum Diana, dad Ben, and brother Théo paid a touching tribute following his death on August 19.

“He was our beautiful boy,” they said. “He was a kind, loving, gentle soul who had time for everyone.

“He was full of life, studying fashion at Manchester Uni, surrounded by so many friends and a girlfriend he loved.

“He has been taken from us far too early and we mourn the life he should have lived. There is a Felix-sized hole in our family which will never mend. We love you and miss you.”

Felix was a popular character in Whitstable, where he had previously held a part-time job at Ruskin Clothing in Harbour Street, which is owned by his aunt and uncle, Shelly and Garrie Keeys.

He studied at the Archbishop’s School and UCA, both in Canterbury, before starting his fashion degree.

His girlfriend, Rachel Crowley, said: “He was the best friend and boyfriend I could ever imagine or have the privilege of knowing."

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