A Scottish soldier who died on holiday in the US has been described as an "incredible young man" by his family.

Private Shaun Cole, from Edinburgh, was said to have been attending the Ultra Music Festival in Miami with friends.

US media have reported that he died as a result of a head injury yesterday.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Pte Cole, who served in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1Scots).

In a statement released through the Army, his family paid tribute to the popular soldier.

They said: "It comes with such regret that we have had to say goodbye to an amazing son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend.

"An extremely popular young man, he had a flair for life and was always the life and soul of everyone he was around. He was an incredible young man who had his life taken from him too soon.

"We ask everyone to respect our privacy to grieve."

Pte Cole had recently returned from Sierra Leone where soldiers have been involved in the Ebola aid effort, and the 22-year-old also served in Afghanistan.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Matt Munro said the soldier will be ''missed terribly''.

"The men and women of 1 Scots are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of Private Shaun Cole," the commanding officer said.

"Only recently back from helping to battle the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan, Shaun achieved an extraordinary amount in a military career that was full of promise but was tragically cut short. We will miss him terribly.

"Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Shaun's family at this desperately difficult time."

The three-day festival is popular with dance music fans, with David Guetta, Skrillex and Armin van Buuren performing this year.