A 23-year-old triplet died of a heart infection just days before he would have learned that he had graduated with a first class honours degree.

University student Abbas Bahadur, who had captained his football team only the day before, would not have known that he had the viral infection.

He was unaware that exercising would have been dangerous for him, an inquest heard yesterday.

He died in his sleep at his home at Wood View, Manningham, in March.

Abbas was one of non-identical triplets born at the Bradford Royal Infirmary in September 1980.

His brother Iltaf, who is the youngest of the three, paid tribute to the keen sportsman today. He said: "Abbas was six foot four, 14 stone and very healthy. He never had an ill day in his life.

"He was very well known and loved by all the community. I feel as though the right arm of my body has gone.

"Abbas was the middle brother and out of the three of us he was the one with the most confidence and we always put him first. I see him every night in my dreams. I play football with him and not a day goes by when I don't think of him."

The night before Abbas died the Bahadur family had got together for a family dinner and Iltaf said his brother had been "very talkative and in good spirits".

His mother Khan Bahadur said he had got her a glass of water, as usual, and he had gone to bed at 1.30am.

She became concerned when he had not got out of bed by midday and did not reply when she knocked on the door.

His brothers climbed on the roof and broke in through the window.

When they found him they called an ambulance but paramedic crews pronounced Mr Bahadur dead at the scene.

Mrs Bahadur lost her husband four years ago and was devastated by her son's death.

She said: "He didn't leave my side for four years and now he has left me in such a way that he can't come back."

She also has three older sons Asad, Rayasat and Sijad and a daughter, Saeeda. The eldest of the triplets, Iftikhar, graduates from his studies in project management today.

Abbas, a former Nab Wood Grammar pupil was a student at Manchester University where he was studying for a BSc (Hons) in Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying.

His family were told he had graduated top of his class with first class honours days after he died.

The university held a two-minute silence during what would have been his graduation ceremony in his memory.

Abbas was captain of the Bradford Tigers football team which is part of the Grattan League and was captain of his local cricket team.

The Tigers cricket team have reached the final of the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League and are due to play on Sunday.

At yesterday's inquest held at Bradford Coroners' Court consultant pathologist Dr David Goldsbrough said Abbas was a "well nourished young man".

He said: "His heart was of normal weight but the muscle of the heart was abnormal and there was inflammation in Mr Bhahadur's heart, and this was caused by a viral infection called lymphocytic myocarditis.

"It is recognised that when people with this kind of infection exercise this puts additional strain on the heart and exacerbates the situation."

Dr Goldsbourgh told Abbas's brothers who were at the hearing that there would have been virtually no symptoms.

He said: "An individual may have what they think is a cold and feel unwell the way people do when they have a cold.

"Often there is nothing to indicate there is significant damage to the heart. He died of the unfortunate and tragic effect of the infection."

The inquest was told that the illness was not hereditary and there were no suspicious circumstances.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, Bradford coroner Roger Whittaker said: "This is a case where had we known at the outset what we now know then an inquest would not have been necessary.

"His condition could not have been diagnosed before he died, and I offer my continuing sympathy to his family."