A Royal Navy serviceman who died in unexplained circumstances at the Faslane nuclear naval base was a 25-year-old Trident submariner, it has been confirmed.
Engineering technician Stephen Cashman died on Thursday at the Clyde base and it has led to an investigation by Police Scotland.
It is believed he died suddenly at around 12.30pm at the barracks of the naval site where British nuclear submarines are based.
A statement from the Royal Navy read: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm Engineering Technician Stephen Cashman died on Thursday 9 December.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with Stephen’s family and friends at this difficult time and we request their privacy is respected.”
Police have said so far that the death is "unexplained" and that a post mortem is being carried out to establish the cause of death.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 12.30pm on Thursday, 9 December, officers were called to Faslane naval base following the death of a man.
"A post mortem examination will be carried out to establish the exact cause of death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.
"A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."
Defence sources indicated to The Guardian that Mr Cashman was a junior crew member who worked on a Vanguard-class vessel that carries the UK’s Trident missiles.
The Clyde base is home to Britain's fleet of four Vanguard class submarines equipped with Trident nuclear missiles and five other Astute and Trafalgar class nuclear-powered attack submarines.
Faslane was first built and used as a base during World War Two and after negotiations with the US in the 1960s over the purchase of a Polaris missile system, four nuclear submarines were built at the naval base.
The location was chosen in the height of the Cold War due to its secluded location but also with deep water and easily navigable.
