British man drowned while travelling in Costa Rica

A coroner in Chelmsford ruled Mr Woodroffe's death was an accident

A British man solo-travelling in Costa Rica drowned after getting swept away by 8ft (2.4m) waves, an inquest heard.

Christian Woodroffe, from Burnham-on-Crouch, was found dead on a beach in Cahuita three days after he last spoke to family on 3 March.

The 22-year-old's family believed he "got into trouble in the sea" before he died, Essex Coroner's Court was told.

Area coroner Michelle Brown ruled his death was an accident in "sad" circumstances.

Mr Woodroffe was in his third month of travelling alone in the Central American country, but had told family he planned to extend the trip, Ms Brown said.

He was staying at a rented Airbnb property close to the beach where he drowned, in the country's Limón province.

"He kept in regular contact with his family and last spoke to them three days, sadly, before he was found," the coroner said.

A sibling of Mr Woodroffe then reported him missing to Essex Police.

Ms Brown told the court Mr Woodroffe's parents were on a cruise at the time, but abandoned the holiday to identify their son's body.

She continued: "The family believed their son got into trouble in the sea, as there were 8ft waves at the time."

Mr Woodroffe's body was later repatriated to the UK, and a fundraiser to cover his funeral costs raised more than £13,500 in donations.

The coroner concluded his cause of death was "asphyxia submersion" and said it was "accidental from a medical, legal perspective".