A UNIVERSITY will “leave no stone unturned” to keep students safe following its third river death in just over a year.

Police today (Monday, January 26) confirmed the body recovered from the River Wear on Friday was that of Durham University law student Euan Coulthard, 19.

The teenager, who was at St Mary’s College but hailed from Leicestershire, disappeared after a night out on Wednesday, January 14, sparking land and river searches.

An online petition calling for more safety measures on the city’s riverbanks has been signed by more than 15,000 people and County Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg and city MP Roberta Blackman-Woods are holding meetings with agencies to look at what should be done.

Prof Graham Towl, the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor and Deputy Warden, said the mood was one of “sadness and shock”.

He said: “It is a time for grieving, I think, coming to terms with the loss.

“We have a full range of counselling services for our students, we have college officers offering support and a number of our students are being supportive to each other, as friends are.

“The students and the staff at the college are having discussions about what might be most appropriate as a memorial to Euan.”

Prof Towl said the university was determined to prevent a further tragedy following the deaths of Mr Coulthard, Luke Pearce and Sope Peters since the autumn of 2013

“The university is keen to play a full in taking action, playing a full role in taking action, working with our multi-agency partners," he said.

“My message (to students) would be one of personal safety, the importance of looking out for each other, looking out for themselves, and to know that as a university we will not leave a stone unturned, we really intend to address this issue working with our partners.”

A post-mortem examination has been carried out on Mr Coulthard’s body and police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

An inquest is expected to open in the next few days.

Supt Colin Williamson, of Durham City Police, said: “ We are very grateful for the assistance we received during our searches from Euan’s friends and fellow students, as well as all the other agencies and volunteers who took part.

“Our thoughts are now very much with Euan’s family at this sad time.”