WHEN 23-year-old Adam Rowbottom went to sleep last Wednesday night, he was a picture of health.

Yet the former Larkmead School, Abingdon, pupil died in his sleep and was found by his mother the next day.

His mother, Ulrike, 50, from Abingdon, said there was nothing to suggest her son, of Mattock Way, Abingdon, was ill and he had even passed an army medical two years ago.

She said: “We spent all the previous day together. He was fit as a fiddle. He was a strong young man.

“And that is what is so tragic and why we are so shocked. He was a young man cut down well before his prime.”

Ms Rowbottom added: “He had a gift for listening and being a true friend to others. He was loyal, he was very supportive. If he liked you, he would give you his last shirt.

“He was also highly intelligent — he was very gifted in a number of ways.”

She said: “Everyone has a few stories to tell about him. He was the life and soul of the party.

“Even the teachers loved him to bits, he turned everything to fun.

“And he was hardly ever seen without his headphones, listening to his beloved music.”

In 2007, Adam, known as ‘Bodders’, went to Ethiopia for six months to teach English and football in the north of the country.

Ms Rowbottom said: “Part of his ashes should go to Ethiopia as part of his heart is there. He has a lot of friends in Ethiopia. He has touched so many people‘s hearts over there, as he has done wherever he has gone.

“It formed him as a person. He just absolutely loved the country and the people.”

Adam, who had spoken of becoming a teacher, had lived in Abingdon since 1992 and went to Rush Common Primary School.

He had a place to study anthropology at the University of East London in September, and worked as a sales assistant at Tesco in Marcham Road.

His father, Peter Rowbottom, 68, said: “I have a complete kaleidoscope of memories. — the fun times, the really fun times, the things we did. He was very proud of having achieved an acceptance at university. He spent a lot of time thinking things through. One of his favourite programmes was University Challenge.”

Adam was half-German and spoke the language fluently.

Brother Anthony Rowbottom, 25, said: “I will remember growing up with him and spending summers in Germany. He was passionate. If he liked something, he would do something.”

Girlfriend Victoria Skinner, 23, of Radley, said: “He was very strong-minded. If he did not want to do something, he wouldn’t. He was very funny, very cheeky.”

Adam won the Princess Diana Memorial Award for mentoring younger students at Larkmead School in 2006. As a teenager, he was twice a county champion with Grove Rugby Club.

He was also a member of The Bears quiz team at The Midget pub in Abingdon.

It is not known how he died, but heart failure is suspected.

His funeral will take place on Wednesday, July 27, at Oxford Crematorium, at 2.15pm. His family said donations could be made to Educate Ethiopia at www.educateethiopia.com