University student found dead in river ran off from parents in prank

University student, 20, found dead in a river had run off on a night out with his parents in a tragic prank that went wrong, inquest hears

• Film student Charley Gadd, 20, was found in River Irwell in Salford, Manchester
• He had been on a night out with parents Jolyon and Kimberley Gadd
• The student twice ran away from his parents as a joke before being found dead 

A university student who was found dead after a month-long search by police had run away from his parents in a prank that turned tragic, an inquest heard.

Film student Charley Gadd, 20, was found in the River Irwell in Salford, Manchester, on January 10 this year. 

He had been on a night out with parents Jolyon and Kimberley Gadd at The Warehouse Project in Manchester city centre on December 11 last year but later ‘ran off’ from them.

His father, Jolyon, said he had already run away from them once that night as a joke.

He said: ‘I went chasing after him, running a couple of blocks. He fell over and I picked him up. 

‘He found it really funny that I was so unfit and we walked off arm in arm. Then we went to get something for him to eat, but he ran off again.’

Mr Gadd was last seen by his family near the Spar Store on St Mary’s Gate, Manchester, at around 1.10am on December 11. 

A university student who was found dead after a month-long search by police had run away from his parents in a prank that turned tragic, an inquest heard. Film student Charley Gadd, 20, was found in the River Irwell in Salford, Manchester, on January 10 this year

They spent hours desperately trying to find him before reporting him missing to police.

CCTV footage showed him outside Manchester’s Royal Exchange theatre, heading towards St Anne Street, just before 1.15am.   

He was then seen in a small car park to the rear of apartment block Alberton House which overlooks the River Irwell.

Mr Gadd was seen walking across the car park, which had a steep drop into the River Irwell. He was not seen leaving. 

Giving evidence at Stockport Coroners Court, Police Coroners Officer David Wood, of Greater Manchester Police, said: ‘It would have been impossible to know that under the car park was water.’

He had been on a night out with parents Jolyon and Kimberley Gadd at The Warehouse Project in Manchester city centre on December 11 last year but later ‘ran off’ from them. Above: CCTV footage of Mr Gadd

Police carried out a ‘serious investigation’ with a huge search effort across the city centre after he was reported missing. They then discovered his body. 

PCO Wood was present on January 10 when Mr Gadd was identified by another officer using an ID and bank card found in his wallet.

The court heard how Consultant Pathologist Dr Andrew Yates carried out a post mortem examination and said he could see signs consistent with Mr Gadd being immersed in water for a long time. 

A toxicologist report showed he had some alcohol present in his body.

Senior Coroner Alison Mutch said to his parents: ‘There was nothing you could do to change what happened, it is one of those tragic accidents that sometimes life brings.’

She said from what she knew of Mr Gadd that he seemed to be ‘delightful’ and told them: ‘He clearly burnt very brightly in the time he was part of your family and he will always be part of your family.’

Police carried out a ‘serious investigation’ with a huge search effort across the city centre after he was reported missing. They then discovered his body.

Summarising the tragedy, she said: ‘This is such a very, very sad situation, particularly for Charley’s family who have lost a beloved son and a beloved brother. It’s clear that Charley was a very intelligent young man, with a very bright future in front of him.

‘He was very close with his parents who had a very loving relationship, they had music in common and had been to various music venues together including Wembley, Brighton and then Manchester in December.

‘It’s clear that on the night in question Charley was messing around and ran off and sadly became completely disorientated in a city that he was unfamiliar with. I can only imagine the anguish his parents felt that night looking for Charley and wondering what on earth to do.’

Mr Gadd, of Sudbury, Suffolk, was a student at the University of Essex. 

Ms Mutch went on to say that the evidence sadly showed Mr Gadd had gone into the River Irwell and once he was in the water it had been impossible to get out.

She said: ‘At that time of year it would have been very challenging to get out. I am satisfied it was a complete accident that happened due to a series of bad luck.

‘The car park was dark and he would have been able to see the bright lights on the other side but would have had no idea there was a river between him and the bright lights.’

Ms Mutch gave her sincere condolences to his parents and to the rest of his family, including his brothers.  

She said although he had consumed alcohol it was not at a toxic or fatal level.

‘I record Charley died as a consequence of drowning and record his death as an accidental death,’ she added. 

His father added: ‘He packed a huge amount into a tragically short life. I was hugely proud of him. I could not have been prouder.’

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