Tragedy as ‘bright & funny’ uni student, 19, is found dead in river after vanishing from city centre in the early hours
THE family of a teenager who drowned in the River Ouse have paid a heartbreaking tribute to him.
Evan d'Andilly, a University of York student, is understood to have entered the water from a bridge in the city centre at just after 3am last Wednesday.
The 19-year-old's body was recovered by divers at 11.45am the same day.
In a statement from his family, they paid tribute to a "gentle" boy after "every family's worst nightmare".
They said: "Evan was, and always will be, our sunshine, our boy.
"He was bright, funny, loving, kind, generous, laid back and had a smile that lit up a room. His soul was gentle. There are no words to express our sadness.
"We would like to thank everyone who has sent words of kindness and support and everyone who tried to help Evan.
"This is every parent's, every family's, worst nightmare. We hope that his friends are getting all the support they need."
We are now able to identify the man who sadly died in the River Ouse in York on Wednesday (5 March 2025) morning.
Evan, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, is thought to have entered the river from Ouse Bridge at 3.06am.
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York Rescue Boat and Fire boat crews were deployed and carried out extensive searches between Ouse Bridge and Skeldergate Bridge.
The Police Under Water Search Unit was also assisting the operation.
North Yorkshire Police said there are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
If you have information to assist the coroner’s report, please call the force on 101 quoting reference NYP-05032025-0030.
