Bar owner’s death remains mystery

Stephen Murphy, 52, died on February 12 after leaving his home in Lloret de Mar, Spain, for a three-week holiday.

An inquest at Bradford Coroner’s Court heard the bar owner, who was originally from Dewsbury, had gone on a fishing and snorkelling trip with 15 others.

West Yorkshire Coroner Paul Marks read evidence that he was observed floating face down in the sea at an island off Phu Quoc on the west side of Vietnam.

Attempts to resuscitate him by the crew were unsuccessful.

Professor Marks, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, told members of his grieving family: “I don’t think we are ever going to determine why he got into trouble or drowned.”

Afterwards, his brother Andrew said he had lived in Spain for 32 years and owned a popular bar called Buzzbys which he shut for two to three months every year while he went on his holidays.

The bar has now re-opened under new proprietors.