Missing student Tom Jones, 18, confirmed as body found in River Severn in Worcester
West Mercia Police said that the recovered body has been formally identified and that the teenager's death is currently being treated as unexplained
POLICE have confirmed that a body found in the River Severn is missing student Thomas Jones.
The 18-year-old's death is now being treated as unexplained by West Mercia Police after they recovered his body in Worcester on Friday.
Thomas went missing in the early hours of September 19 after a night out during his first week at Worcester University.
Harley Hetherington, who has known Thomas since they were kids, paid tribute to his friend saying he will be "loved forever".
The 18-year-old said: “You were and always will be in every single one of our hearts and we all love you forever.
"Thank you for being in all of our lives and making us all smile."
Harley had previously said Thomas was "fine right up until the point he went missing".
He said: "I saw him in the Velvet nightclub and he seemed absolutely fine. He was behaving normally and didn't seemed intoxicated at all."
Hundreds of volunteers helped in the search for the teenager, originally from Bromsgrove, as his parents launched a desperate appeal to find him.
Celebrities including Tom Hardy, Harry Styles and Kerry Katona shared the social media appeal to find Thomas, and posters and banners were put up around the city.
Thomas had moved to Worcester on September 16 ahead of starting his primary school teaching course at university.
He was thought to have crossed a footbridge near flood defences in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Superintendent Damian Pettit of West Mercia Police said: "I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Thomas' family.
"Over the course of the investigation, the support that they have received from friends and members of the public to help try and find Thomas has been greatly appreciated.
"Our officers and partners have also been working around the clock over the last couple of weeks, to try and provide answers as to Thomas' whereabouts, and sadly this is not the outcome any of us hoped for."
Thomas' parents Ian and Vicki had previously thanked people for their help in coming out to look for their son, saying the support from friends and strangers had been immense.
Mr Jones said they had had to "dig deep" for their daughter Ellie.
Uncle Chris Rogers said the family had been through a "rollercoaster of emotions" since the disappearance.
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Police and Crime Commissioner John Champion said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Thomas Jones at this unimaginably difficult time.
"The response from the public has been outstanding, and I'd like to thank all those came together to support and volunteer their time, showing Worcester's true community spirit."
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