THE mother of a university student who drowned after falling into the river during a night out has spoken on the first anniversary of her death - to call for more to be done to protect young people.

Megan Roberts, an arts student at York St John University, drowned in the River Ouse after drinking with friends on January 23.

The 20-year-old was the first of three young people to die in the city's rivers in just four months.

Speaking on the anniversary of her death, as police divers were searching for the body of missing Durham student Euan Coulthard, her heartbroken mother called for more to be done to stem the number of tragedies in the region’s rivers.

Jackie Roberts said: “It’s heartbreaking that so many young people have lost their lives in rivers in the past 12 months while enjoying a night out with friends.

“I can’t believe that another family is in the same place as I was this time last year in not knowing where their child is. It is every parents’ worst nightmare and like being in a horror story.

“It’s vital we raise awareness about water safety and make sure we do everything we can to make sure our rivers are as safe as possible.”

Just days after Megan’s death, 22-year-old guitar salesman Ben Clarkson drowned after falling into the River Foss and 18-year-old soldier Tyler Pearson’s body was pulled from the River Ouse after a night out in the city on April 2.

Water charity the Royal Life Saving Society UK runs a ‘Don’t Drink and Drown’ campaign to warn drinkers, especially students, to be aware of the dangers of consuming alcohol near water.

Director of Volunteers and Community Education, Adrian Lole, said: “The number of young people who have drowned after drinking near rivers in the past year is truly shocking.

“It is a terrible waste of young lives and action needs to be taken.

“Steps can be made to improve river safety and we have worked with a number of local authorities to introduce measures to reduce the dangers.

“We are also working hard to spread the message of our Don’t Drink and Drown campaign which highlights the risks of drinking near open water and advises people how to stay safe.

“For instance, by making sure they avoid walking home along a canal or river after a night out drinking.”