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Original poster

19 year old student missing in Durham

80 replies

FreakinScaryCaaw · 17/01/2015 00:06

Here.

This is the third student to go missing in Durham in 14 months. Sadly the other 2 were found in the river.

I was in Durham today and his friends were handing out leaflets with his picture on. ITV news were there too. It's so awful Sad

I have two teenage boys, one will go to Uni next year. I can't even begin to imagine how worried his family are.

I do hope he's found safe.

OP posts:
NanaNina · 17/01/2015 00:18

Nightmare......complete nightmare.....every parent's worst nightmare. Hope and pray he is found safe and well but it doesn't look good.

ShellyF · 17/01/2015 00:19

Praying for safe return.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 17/01/2015 00:23

No it doesn't look good.

It was awful seeing those students desperately handing out the leaflets. I'm in tears again.

It's so odd though, why did he go down those steps? Why are these students going towards the river alone?

OP posts:
NanaNina · 17/01/2015 13:21

I wasn't sure if that was the way back to his house, maybe a short cut by the river? It's affecting me as a mother and can't imagine what his parents must be going through..........I wish he'd been with the friends he went out with, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.........could he have fallen in the river as he'd been out and no doubt drinking. Oh I don't know, it's just so awful.

Am praying for his parents even though I'm not religious.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 17/01/2015 13:59

No one's said if that was on the way to his digs?

It's just awful that he's seen on CCTV then minutes later his phone powered down.

I can't stop thinking of it.

He's the 3rd in a year just in Durham.

Hopefully he's just decided to go missing for a while but it's unlikely.

Awful Sad

OP posts:
SnowBells · 18/01/2015 00:44

What steps are you guys talking about?

This is my alma mater. Can't believe this is the third time! I never thought anyone could drown in that river. I even fell into it when I was there...

Messygirl · 18/01/2015 00:53

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Messygirl · 18/01/2015 00:53

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scousadelic · 18/01/2015 01:01

Yes, which steps? The only steps I remember are, I think, just behind him where he is shown on the bridge so he wouldn't have gone down them

My DS went to Durham so this tears at my heart, it is every mother's nightmare.

I hope and pray he is found safe

Oceanpurple · 18/01/2015 01:19

It's an easy way to get to a lot of the student housing by taking the path by the river. Sad

NanaNina · 18/01/2015 12:46

There are some videos of the police searches and on one there are some steps that lead down to the river - looks like they are enclosed by walls on either side and the police said that Euan was last seen walking down these steps towards the river. The steps looked like they were very near the river.

I just keep thinking of those parents and what they must be going through, and his extended family and close friends. I was talking to my son last night about it and commented that even though Euan went out with a large group of friends, he obviously decided to walk home on his own, and my son said "that's the sort of thing you do when you're drunk" - I used to do that instead of getting a cab or waiting for the others...." He's well past teenage but I thought it was an interesting comment. NOT saying Euan was drunk but he had been out celebrating a 21st with friends and later clubbing so it would be a strange student who wouldn't have been drinking for several hours.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 18/01/2015 16:04

Still no news Sad

I ended up crying at work talking about it to someone.

His poor family and friends, heartbreaking.

OP posts:
ouryve · 18/01/2015 16:06

Police were live tweeting, on Friday. The turn out for the search was huge.

The weather was awful on Wednesday night/Thursday morning, when he disappeared.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 18/01/2015 16:17

I know the wind was horrific.

OP posts:
SnowBells · 18/01/2015 16:47

As a female Durham alumni, I have to say that going home alone is what you often do - it's a very small town with a tight-knit student community that can lull you into a false sense of security.

During my time there, I believe a female student was raped in broad daylight (can't remember exactly, but I think the suspect was older and definitely not a student). This happened on a path where I frequently walked a dog of an elderly lady.

NanaNina · 18/01/2015 17:42

The problem is that these things happen at random and there's no way you can really protect yourself (though I still think walking home alone especially late at night isn't a good idea) but I take your point SnowBells Everyone thinks it will never happen to them......or young people probably never think of things that older people worry about.

My nephew (a young solicitor) was very badly mugged recently at about 6.30 pm just coming out of work - serious injuries and he's lost all his confidence and has been off work for weeks. He seems changed in himself too, just not the person he used to be. And this was in a relatively busy area and no one came to help as he was being kicked in the street - he didn't know the attacker - just a random mindless piece of violence. His brief case was taken but there were only papers in there, and no money.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 18/01/2015 17:50

Aww your poor nephew NanaNina Sad Has he done any self defence classes? I was attacked when young and they helped me. Did Thai boxing too.

OP posts:
NanaNina · 18/01/2015 18:13

To be honest Freakin he's in a bad way emotionally (don't want to say too much on here) and he's not leaving the house at the moment. But self defence classes are a good idea. I used to work with someone who was a Judo expert ( a woman - quite small and slim build) and she used to put on classes for people wanting to learn how to protect themselves. She said it was all about "your head - in the sense of how you felt about fighting back" rather than in your body (strength wise) and I saw her demonstrate this one day.

I was a social worker (retired now) and one day there was an incredibly stroppy bloke in one of the meeting rooms and was kicking chairs about and we all left the room as he was very intimidating. The woman I mentioned happened to be in the building and I got hold of her and told her what was happening. She came straight downstairs and confronted the bloke - he was still in the room shouting and swearing and throwing stuff about and she stood in the door way with her arms outstretched and palms facing him and told him in a stern voice " to STOP " and he tried to get out of the room, whereupon she barred his way by remaining in place and holding on to the door frame with each hand. To our astonishment he backed off, and sat down in a chair, kicking out at papers on the floor and swearing and muttering but his anger was on a different level. She then went in the room and sat beside him and started talking to him, and he ended up saying he was sorry he just "saw red" when something was said to him about his son.

I was mega impressed I can tell you. Thing is though she knew that if he did try to push her out of the way (which is what I thought would happen) she could handle herself. I never did those classes, but I wish I had - far too old now!

Still thinking about those poor parents and extended family - they must know there is very little hope now, and the best they can hope for is to find his body. It's got to me too, I can't stop thinking about it. I can't think of any scenario which could mean he is still alive. Sad

ChippingInLatteLover · 18/01/2015 18:18

How worrying for his parents, it doesn't look good :(

Pixel · 18/01/2015 19:29

My godson (22) narrowly escaped a mugging before Christmas. There were three lads looking a bit suspicious on the path ahead of him so he decided to go another way, and as he turned round there was another one waiting who started to shout demanding his money and his phone.
My godson, who is a gentle soul and has never hit anyone in his life, remembered what his mum used to tell him about bullies at school "hit the biggest one as hard as you can and run away", so that's exactly what he did and luckily he got away with it. He's a lot more wary of taking short cuts now.

I just came on this thread hoping there would be some good news about Euan. It doesn't look good now does it Sad.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 18/01/2015 19:35

NanaNina I do hope your nephew finds a way to get through this. I have 2 teenage boys, one heading for Uni next year, and I worry already. It's such a cruel world out there.

Glad your godson escaped Pixel.

OP posts:
NanaNina · 19/01/2015 00:34

I think the teenage years are probably the most worrying for us mothers. At least when they're little we know where they are! At least they have mobile phones now so you can get hold of them (if they answer) my sons are in their early 40s and there weren't mobiles about when they were teenage. Mind I still worry about them now even though they are men, rather than boys. I don't think as parents we ever stop worrying about our kids. What we worry about changes, but the intensity of our feelings don't change.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 19/01/2015 08:19

No you're right NanaNina. It's a constant worry. I tell my dss not to have kids and mean it. It's bad enough worrying about my step grandson.

OP posts:
ouryve · 19/01/2015 13:55

Still no news :(

friendface · 19/01/2015 14:27

DS is a student at durham and has just sent this petition to me. It would be great if people could sign and raise awareness to stop such a tragedy reoccurring.

petition