The family of a 19-year-old student whose body was found in woodland on Christmas Day was an “incredibly intelligent and caring young man”, his family have said.
Tom Dingle, from Appley Bridge, near Wigan, was last seen at Stonemill Rise at about 00:30 GMT on 13 December.
The Lancaster University student’s body was found off Lees Lane in Dalton, west Lancashire 12 days later. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
The tribute comes as his family and friends launched a fundraiser in his memory for the Royal British Legion, which they said is what he would have wanted as his ultimate ambition was to join the Army.
Tom was studying philosophy and his relatives said he wanted to join the Parachute Regiment after completing his degree.
They said he was “an incredibly intelligent and caring young man who had his whole life ahead of him”.
“Tom’s death has left a hole in our hearts which will never be filled. Christmas, and life as a whole, will never be the same without our Tom,” they said.
“To honour Tom’s memory, we as a family and Tom’s friends wish to raise money for the Royal British Legion. This is a charity very close to us, and we know it is what Tom would have wanted.”
They thanked the police, rescue volunteers and “all the people in the community and beyond for their incredible help and support”.
