Morning:
10°c
Friends of dead fresher devastated by loss
Peter Dominiczak and Benedict Moore-Bridger30 Sep 2009
Friends of the fresher student who collapsed and died at a welcome party dubbed the “Night of Mayhem” today spoke of their devastation.
Linguistics undergraduate Tom Reid, 19, had been at University College London for barely 24 hours when he collapsed and died at Koko club in Camden, north London.
St Pancras Coroner Dr Andrew Reid yesterday ordered toxicology tests that he said were needed to rule out drink or drugs as a cause of death.
But the coroner said that at Sunday lunch with his parents in London to say goodbye before starting university, Mr Reid had complained of “rapid beating in his chest.”
Dr Reid said he would need to discover any family history of heart trouble before a full inquest on 21 January.
The union's website billing for the £13-a-head sell-out event at Koko promised fresher students top DJs and a “Night of Mayhem” with cheap drinks promotions.
But friends today described Mr Reid as a “clean living” person who did not take drugs, smoke or drink to excess.
Mr Reid, who friends said loved acting and musical theatre, left school in Garforth, Leeds, more than a year ago before retaking his A levels in January to improve his grades.
His parents had driven their son on Saturday from their family home to his halls of residence in central London to start his linguistics course.
On Sunday night, he attended the club event at Koko but collapsed and died in the early hours of Monday.
Friends said that Mr Reid had been looking forward to starting university for most of the year and had a countdown to the start of term on his Facebook page.
Term does not start until next week, but Freshers week at UCL has now become Freshers Fortnight, with a long series of events staged by the students union, at least six at nightclubs.
Close friend Beth Lilley, 19, a student who had known Mr Reid since school, said: “Tom was an amazing person. He was so excited about moving down to London. He had a countdown set up on his Facebook site with the number of days left until he was heading down. He hadn't even been there for 24 hours and he died. All of us are devastated.
“He was the kindest person I've ever met. He was incredibly intelligent, a wonderful person, and was a talented actor and musician.”
Ms Lilley said that reports that Mr Reid had died of alcohol poisoning were “insensitive and hurtful to all his friends and family”.
She said: “I don't think there is any way his death could have been alcohol related. Tom didn't smoke, he didn't do drugs and he didn't drink too much. He just wasn't into any of that.”
Another friend, 19-year-old Christian Lawley, from Garforth, said: “Tom had time for everyone he ever met. You couldn't ask for a better friend. He was a clean living person. People just can't believe he is gone.”
Following the death an “All you dare to drink for £15” night at the Den and Centro bar near the halls of residence was also cancelled on advice from Camden's drinks licensing unit.
As a mark of respect, the students' union cancelled a similar freshers' Vodpop Skool Disco at Pacha nightclub in Victoria.
Reader views (2)
I never knew Tom well as I was a year below him, but whenever I saw him around school he was always smiling and came across as a lovely, friendly person. I hear from my friends who were in his year that he was friendly and always seeing the best in everything, in life in general and school. It is such a loss of a talented, friendly young man, and my deepest sympathy and thoughts go to his family. God bless you.
- Rachel, Garforth, Leeds, 12/10/2009 18:21
Report abuse
I have had several attenpts of starting this text and cant find the words to express how very sorry I am to hear of the loss of your son Tom.
- Rose Williams, Kent, 30/09/2009 23:12
Report abuse
