University of Oxford student believed to have gone missing while walking home after night out

A specialist rescue team is now searching for a missing University of Oxford student. Benedict, who is known as Ben, hasn’t been seen for over three weeks. He is 20 years old.

The University of Oxford student went missing at around 1am on Sunday 26th January. Ben was last seen on Cripley Road in central Oxford – which is very close to both the station and the River Thames. CCTV footage shows he was wearing a red chequered shirt and dark jeans. It is believed he started walking home after a night out.

CCTV footage of Ben right before he went missing
(Image via Thames Valley Police)

Police have conducted aerial searches of the area, spoken to people who live near Botley Road, and scanned CCTV footage. They did search the area surrounding the River Thames. But because of high water levels and flooding, the actual river was considered “very dangerous” and the police couldn’t search it for several days.

This week,  Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire – a team of volunteers which specialises in searching for people – were finally able to start their search of the river. Volunteers went out on boats on 18th February.

Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire searching the River Thames
(Image via Thames Valley Police)

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Emma Picket’s son went to both university and school with Ben. She told MailOnline: “This has been really frightening and shocking and turned all the lives upside down of all the people that knew Ben. It’s a horrible, horrible situation. It’s horrible enough when someone goes missing but horrible when you don’t have answers and don’t know what’s happening. And obviously he’s not been found, which is really scary.

“Ben had a really beautiful connection with lots of friends. He had a lovely friendship network. My son was part of a group with Ben and they’re all working hard to support each other and look after each other.

“The university have offered support, the tutors and the welfare team have been reaching out and helping the other students.”

Ben has been missing for several weeks
(Image via the Thames Valley Police)

Detective Sergeant Pete Warne said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of Ben and we continue to carry out a number of enquiries to trace him.

“We would like to thank those members of the public who have already come forward, and we are asking anyone with any further information to please get in touch.”

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