Mum of student who drowned in Durham: 'As time went on our hope disappeared'

 
Missed: Luke Pearce's mother told of her grief after her son drowned
Anna Dubuis22 May 2014

The mother of a student who drowned in a river after a university night out has told of the family’s devastation.

The body of Luke Pearce, 19, from Hounslow, was found in the River Wear in Durham on Sunday morning.

He was last seen in the early hours of May 11 walking along the banks of the river after going drinking with friends.

After a huge search operation, police were called when members of Durham Amateur Rowing Club spotted a body in the river.

Mr Pearce’s mother Kate told the Standard: “It was dreadful. It was a rollercoaster. We hoped that he would be found safe and well, but as time went on that disappeared.”

She said Luke had been enjoying his time at university and had made many new friends.

The tragedy comes just 18 months after Mr Pearce’s father passed away following an organ failure.

His two older sisters and one younger sister live in the family home in Hounslow with their mother.

Friends and teachers have paid tribute to the talented student who was in the first year of an engineering undergraduate degree. His former head at The Heathland School in Hounslow said: “Luke was one of the most polite and courteous students I have met in all my years at Heathland, and we are all devastated by this tragedy.

“He was a wonderful person and an incredible all-round student, who excelled both academically and on the sports field. He had a passion for rugby and played for Wasps Academy as a back row forward.

“Everyone liked and respected him and he was always prepared to help both staff and his peers. Our hearts go out to all his family.”

On Twitter his former teacher Miss Thorne wrote: “Struggling to express my sadness at the death of one of the most talented, kind and humble students I’ve ever had the honour to teach.”

Another teacher added: “Today we learnt the sad news about Luke. Such a mature, polite, well-respected and dedicated student and a fantastic house captain.”

Sim Grewal wrote: “RIP Luke Pearce, a friend, a role model, a saint. You shall be missed.”

Police said there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Pearce’s death.

It comes weeks comes just weeks after calls for better riverside safety on the Wear following the death of economics student Sopefoluwa Peters, 20, last October after a night drinking with friends. At an inquest into his death, the coroner voiced concerns over the low height of the river wall.

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