WHEN Adam Rowbottom went to sleep on Wednesday night the 23-year-old was a picture of health.

But the former Larkmead School pupil, pictured above, never woke up and was found dead by his mother Ulrike the next day.

Last night Ms Rowbottom, 50, from Abingdon, was trying to come to terms how a seemingly healthy young man who had even passed an army medical two years ago could die without any warning.

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

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

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

Adam, of Mattock Way, was remembered by family and friends last night. Ms Rowbottom said: “He had a gift for listening and being a true friend to others. He was loyal, he was very supportive.

“He was also highly intelligent, he was very gifted in a number of ways. Everyone has a few stories to tell about him.

“He was hardly ever seen without his headphones listening to his beloved music.”

In 2007 Adam went to Ethiopia for six months to teach English and football in Adigrat 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 about 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 was working as a sales assistant at Tesco in Marcham Road, Abingdon.

His father Peter, 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.

His brother Anthony, 25, said: “I will remember growing up with him and spending summers in Germany.”

Girlfriend Victoria Skinner, 23, of Radley, said: “He was very strong minded. If he did not want to do something he would not. 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 part of a county championship winning team with Grove Rugby Club. His funeral will take place on Wednesday, July 27, at 2.15pm at Oxford Crematorium.

Donations can be made to Educate Ethiopia at educateethiopia.com