Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
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 · 22/01/2015 00:25

I think that's highly unlikely Freakin - he was a sensible, intelligent young man. He wouldn't put his family and friends through such agony. I think the police tend to say they are hopeful someone is alive until a body is found. Until such time, I am fairly certain it is categorised as "missing from home" and only if/when a body is found do they change it to a "murder enquiry."

A week tonight he was alive and out enjoying himself with his friends. It's so sad and I can't imagine what his parents and siblings (if he has any) and extended family are going through. Friends will be worried and upset I know, but it's the mom and dad and any siblings/grandparents I am feeling for.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 22/01/2015 09:31

Murder enquiry? I hope not.

OP posts:
ouryve · 22/01/2015 12:59

Freakin, it's a fair fall, down a muddy bank to end up in that river. The river itself is pretty fast flowing with lots of eddies and would have been faster than usual that night, as it was blowing a gale and tipping it down (DS1's route to school was blocked by floods and overturned lorries on Thursday morning - it was that wild).

It's not inconceivable that he knocked his head on the way down. It's also not inconceivable tat he didn't, but was too drunk and shocked to work out how to get out.

ouryve · 22/01/2015 13:09

Rather than have lights blasting down or fences spoiling the scenery (and I don't think they'd survive the floods in some areas, to be honest) it would make more sense to gate the riverside paths off after dark.

York is another city that's had an unreal number of drownings in the river, this past year or so. They found the body of a 60 year old woman, last night :(

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 22/01/2015 23:25

Yes I know the river well, we go to Durham weekly and I was there today.

York is the same, very true.

Gates do sound a good idea. Something will have to be done.

OP posts:
IAmAPaleontologist · 23/01/2015 11:50

A body has been found. It seems the search is over.

I hope his family and friends are given the time and space to grieve in peace.

ouryve · 23/01/2015 11:55

Oh gosh. Found under Framwellgate bridge like last time, too :(

Stealthpolarbear · 23/01/2015 11:59

Oh :(
Where did you hear that?

Stealthpolarbear · 23/01/2015 12:01

Just seen it now

Messygirl · 23/01/2015 12:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NanaNina · 23/01/2015 13:49

Yes horrendously sad - a young man in his prime with a life before him - and his poor parents - every parent's worst nightmare. Can only hope that he died very quickly and I think he would have done because the weather was awful in the early hours of last Thursday morning and the river would have been high and fast. He would almost certainly have lost consciousness within seconds because of the shock of the cold water and once water enters the lungs, death follows rapidly.

Think the Uni do need to issue WARNINGS to students NOT to walk home alone in the early hours of the morning when they've been drinking, and certainly not by the side of the river. Don't know if this would stop them though.....everyone thinks it will never happen to them and of course young people are much more likely to take risks and not even think of them as risks.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 23/01/2015 13:56

You're right NanaNina, they can be warned and warned umpteen times but if they've been drinking they feel invincible.

It's so tragic.

OP posts:
Meandthecat · 23/01/2015 16:58

So so sad, that poor family.
Wish Durham was nearer so I could give my own son a hug.

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 23/01/2015 17:02

Aww when will you see him next Meandthecat? Is he home in Feb?

OP posts:
Meandthecat · 23/01/2015 17:10

He's back over Easter, he's a sensible boy, have text him again to stay away from the river.
Thank you for asking

Original poster
FreakinScaryCaaw · 23/01/2015 17:12

Not long now then. My eldest son goes to Uni next year although we don't know which yet.

OP posts:
TheSilverSwan · 23/01/2015 17:21

Such a shame. Seen the news that a body has been found.
I work in Durham so know the area well.
:-(

hiddenhome · 26/01/2015 22:39

Some of us have been thinking this over in work and we're wondering if these events aren't accidental.

Ds1 visits this area with friends.

SolomanDaisy · 27/01/2015 11:16

I have wondered that too. Three just seems a lot in one year. It probably is just horrible bad luck though.

DuelingFanjo · 27/01/2015 11:19

we have a lot of young men just going missing without trace in South Wales too. I find it all quite worrying.

Is anyone aware of the case of Allan Bryant who went missing on the very short journey home from a nightclub in Scotland just over a year ago?
or the case of Kyle Vaughan who went missing in South Wales.

MirandaWest · 27/01/2015 11:22

Someone else mentioned York and there have been more drownings in the river here over the past year than before. There have been suggestions made that it is something more sinister. I'm not sure what I think although I'm thinking it's bad luck rather than anything else.

durhamgirl · 27/01/2015 11:24

Personally I don't think there's anything untoward going on, that particular path is right next to the river and it would be easy to stumble or trip and go in head first. It really needs to be impressed upon the students not to use the riverbanks as a shortcut at night or after drinking.

ouryve · 27/01/2015 14:01

I agree durhamgirl. I took DS1 for a walk down that path, in the middle of the day, last year, and couldn't hold his hand tight enough. Some of it feels very precarious, particularly if it's been wet and there's been mudslides.

boogiewoogie · 27/01/2015 18:01

3 river deaths in the space of 14 months does seem worrying for such a small area. However, I don't think that it is unlikely that they just slipped, in their drunken state plus it's dark. DH runs to work sometimes along the river and he needs a torch along the path.

hiddenhome · 28/01/2015 20:39

I hope it is an accident, but it seems a bit suspicious that's all. People going missing after nightclubs and into rivers seems to be on the increase Sad the CCTV of him going across the bridge didn't look as though he was drunk. I feel so sorry for his parents and all the families of those students who have died just going about their normal business.

I've warned ds not to go down there at all now.