Family of student who drowned thank community

The family of a university student who drowned while under the influence of alcohol have praised emergency services and the local community, saying their support shows "how good people are".

The body of Connor James Calleja, 20, was found during a search of Foss Bank – a body of water near Brayford Pool in Lincoln – on 13 January.

An inquest, held at the city's Myles Cross Centre, concluded his death was an accident.

Speaking at the inquest, Calleja's stepfather, John Lewis, said: "Everybody that's assisted with Connor's retrieval have just been amazing - the people from Lincoln. It makes you realise how good people are in this world."

Calleja, from Market Harborough, Leicestershire, had last been seen on 11 January on the university campus.

The inquest heard he had been celebrating a friend's birthday and had gone to a nightclub where he was turned away twice.

CCTV showed him walking along the High Street, along the Brayford waterfront and around a university building.

In a statement read out in court, Det Insp Gemma Skipworth said Calleja appeared to become more disorientated throughout the footage.

She said there was no evidence of third party involvement and added she believed he had "sadly fallen in".

A toxicology report found he was twice over the drink-drive limit and no drugs were found in his system.

However, senior coroner Paul Smith said Calleja's alcohol consumption was "comparatively modest" and assumed his disorientation arose from "his naivety to alcohol".

Smith said: "It seems almost certain that in some way he accidentally fell into the water."

In a statement read out in court, his family said: "Connor was an incredibly kind and loyal person and always a joy to be around.

"He was genuinely happy with where his life was and that brings us comfort."

They described him as "smart, kind and growing in confidence every day".

"Connor adored his friend and was fiercely loyal... he didn't have a bad bone in his body," they added.

"He was everything to us, our baby and our world, we couldn't have asked for a better son, losing him has left us completely lost.

"He gave us so much joy, we are so incredibly proud of him and that will stay with us forever."

Speaking to the family, Smith said: "There is nothing that I can say which is going to take the hurt away.

"I just feel very, very sorry for you both that these circumstances have played out in the way that they did. But I hope you remember Connor for all the right reasons."

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