A YOUNG army trainee died in his barracks after sniffing lighter fuel with friends, an inquest heard.

Gunner Michael Riley was based at Stirling Barracks, Larkhill, for the second phase of his training, when he died after falling from a chair in a friend's dormitory in November 2003.

The 17-year-old, from Walsall, nicknamed Bubbles because of his animated personality, had been drinking in the Naafi bar with friends before returning to the barracks to listen to music.

However, Wiltshire coroner David Masters was forced to adjourn the inquest before he could record a verdict because the two main witnesses have gone absent without leave in Cyprus.

Gunners Michael Devine and Richard Callaghan were in the former's dormitory with Gnr Riley when he fell from the chair and appeared to start choking and suffer a fit. He was rushed to Salisbury District Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Following protests on behalf of Gnr Riley's parents, Mr Masters agreed to adjourn the hearing in the hope that one of the missing soldiers would appear before the court at a later date.

After some confusion, it was discovered Gnr Devine had recently been traced in Cyprus, but a doctor had declared him unfit to travel for at least four weeks.

It is believed Gnr Callaghan's whereabouts are still unknown.

Another trainee living in the barracks, Gunner Mark Watson, did appear at Salisbury Coroner's Court and said he had visited Devine's room earlier in the afternoon in question to borrow a cigarette.

He accepted his police statement at the time said he had been aware of Gnrs Riley and Callaghan inhaling lighter fuel from a canister. This was some time before the trainees visited the bar and he was not present at the time Gnr Riley fell.

Gnr Watson then went to a friend's room and it was on his way back that he encountered a group attempting to administer first aid to Gnr Riley and was asked to call an ambulance.

He said he took one look at Gnr Riley and, realising there was a serious problem, made the 999 call.

Gnr Watson told the inquest he barely knew either Gnrs Riley or Callaghan and had never seen anyone inhaling butane gas before that day. Police statements given by others at the barracks at the time stated that Gnr Riley had been seen sniffing gas several times before.

The inquest was adjourned to an unspecified date.