Two British men died of heat stroke while hiking in the United Arab Emirates, an inquest has heard. Cassius Newton, 34, the son of former Chelsea footballer Eddie Newton, and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, were found by rescuers on July 18 in Wadi Naqab, a mountainous area in Ras Al Khaimah.

The pair, who had moved to the UAE for work, were living in the luxury resort of Ras Al Khaimah. Their respective inquests were opened separately in Chelmsford.

According to Essex area coroner Michelle Brown, Newton decided to go for a hike with a friend around 7 a.m. through a desert valley. His wife, who was in the UK, reported him missing after she had not heard from him. The coroner noted that it appeared they had chosen a recreational route that did not require hiking equipment.

The court was informed that temperatures during the hike would have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Newton was discovered by a search team approximately three to four kilometers from their vehicle, lying on his back surrounded by rocks. He was found 350 meters away from Martinson, who was discovered lying on his left side, also surrounded by rocks.

Both men were transported to a hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, where their deaths were confirmed later that day. The provisional medical cause of death for both was recorded as cardiac and respiratory arrest, with severe rising body temperature and heat stress caused by exposure to high temperatures cited as contributing factors.

Father-of-three Aran Martinson, 33, from Essex, was found just metres away from his friend

Martinson was described by his wife in a LinkedIn post as incredibly driven, hardworking, and ambitious. She called him her best friend, adding that he was funny, kind, loyal, and determined.

Tributes to Newton highlighted him as a talented amateur footballer who had played for several teams. His former club, Blackfield & Langley FC, and Eastleigh Football Club, where he had previously been signed, expressed their condolences.

Mr Newton was described as a 'talented' amateur footballer who had played for several teams

Eddie Newton, Cassius Newton's father, had a notable career playing for Chelsea FC, making over 200 appearances. He also scored in Chelsea's 1997 FA Cup Final victory and served as assistant coach when the team won the UEFA Champions League in 2012. He also played for Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Oxford United, and Barnet.

The coroner adjourned both inquests, with proceedings likely to continue as documentary hearings based on written evidence.