University fresher found dead in the River Thames in Oxford

An 18-year-old university student was found dead in the river in Oxford.

Fintan Feltham was a fresher at the University of Reading. Police announced he was missing on Wednesday 27th November. He was last seen at about 3:31am walking down Whitehouse Road – an area just south of the city centre next to Christchurch Meadow.

Thames Valley Police became “increasingly concerned” and appealed to the public for help. The police searched the area with Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire.

A body has sadly been recovered by our officers and @oxsar from water near Osney Mead.

Formal identification has not yet taken place but we believe it to be missing person Fintan, 18, who went missing on Wednesday.

Our thoughts remain with his family at this difficult time.🙏🏼

— TVP Oxfordshire (@TVP_Oxfordshire) December 3, 2024

On 3rd December, officers recovered a body from the River Thames near Osney Mead in Oxford. This area is a short walk away from where Fintan was last seen on Whitehouse Road.

The body hasn’t been formally identified yet, but the police believe it to be Fintan. Police are treating his death as unexplained but not suspicious.

Fintan was from Bristol. He studied at Orchard Bristol School and the College Green Centre at the City of Bristol College. He was part of the Horfield Army Cadets. Fintan was in his first year of the War, Peace and International Relations course at the University of Reading. He has a part-time job as a swimming instructor.

We have learned that one of our former Army Cadets, Fintan, has been found deceased by search and rescue teams in the River Thames after his disappearance.

These pictures tell the story of some of the significant moments in his time as an Army Cadet.

May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/8cL2VK0YIq

— Bristol & the Channel Islands Army Cadets (ACF) (@BandCIACF) December 3, 2024

The University of Reading said, “We are deeply saddened by this latest news from Thames Valley Police. The thoughts of the University community are with Fintan’s family and friends.

“If you need support or someone to talk to, our student support helpline is open 24/7 on 0800 023 2466, or additional support can be accessed via: https://www.reading.ac.uk/…/Support-And…/Urgent-help.”

There will be a private gathering for Fintan’s friends at the University of Reading.

Featured images of Fintan via X. Featured image of the Osney area of Oxford by Omassey.