THE mother of tragic student Jeremy Boothroyd has spoken of the gratitude she feels towards her son's friends and family in the wake of his sudden death.

Jeremy, 32, of Sandy Lane, Leyland, died when a diving trip to Coniston Water a fortnight ago went tragically wrong.

Despite desperate attempts by friends and paramedics to revive him at the side of the lake, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Lancaster University PhD student's funeral was held at a packed Pleasington Crematorium on Friday, with student pals and local friends filling the chapel.

His mother, Mavis, says she feels overwhelmed by the support she has received over the past fortnight, adding that the 100-plus cards she has received has made her feel very proud of her son.

She said: "Jeremy was obviously very popular. I can't believe there have been so many cards.

"So many people wanted to come to the funeral from the university that they had to lay on a bus.

"The funeral was a celebration of his life more than anything. There were no hymns, just music from Ella Fitzgerald and the song Brothers In Arms. It was lovely to see it so full. It was so touching."

Friends from Leyland's Morris Men carried the coffin into the chapel at the start of the service.

A service of remembrance is being planned at Lancaster University, where he was studying for a PhD is Computer Studies.

Mavis, who works at the St Catherine's charity shop in Leyland, says her son's death still hasn't hit her, adding: "Because he only used to come home at weekends, I am still expecting him to walk in at any time.

"Although I didn't like him diving, I knew it was what made him happy. He loved the sea and water. He had hoped to join the navy."

Lancaster University's unofficial internet site has become a makeshift shrine for Jeremy. Dozens of friends have left tributes to the popular student, known on campus as Jez.

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