The acting vice-chancellor of the University of Reading has said that missing student Daniel Williams, his friends and family are very much in his thoughts during a ‘difficult time’.
Earlier today, Thames Valley Police announced that a body had been found in Whiteknights Lake, just a few hundred yards from the Students Union bar where Daniel was last seen.
The 19-year-old computer science student was last seen leaving the 3Sixty bar just after midnight in the early hours of Thursday, January 31, after attending the union’s Wednesday club night.
Although search and rescue teams had been working hard to try and find Daniel, parts of Whiteknights Lake had frozen over during last weekend’s cold snap.
Although formal identification is yet to take place, the family of Daniel Williams has been informed of the development. The death is currently being treated as unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious.
Superintendent Stan Gilmour, Local Policing Area Commander for Reading, said: “Tragically officers searching for Daniel have located a body. While the identity of the person who died is yet to be established, we have informed Daniel’s family and are providing support to them.
“Please could I make an appeal to respect the privacy of Daniel’s family at what must be a deeply difficult time for them.”
And in a statement, Professor Robert Van de Noort, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “I was saddened to learn that a body was found earlier today on our Whiteknights campus by police officers searching for Daniel Williams.
“It is a very difficult time, and support is being offered to students and staff.
“We have been in close contact with Thames Valley Police during their investigation of Daniel’s disappearance and we will continue to assist them in any way we can.
“I would like to express thanks on behalf of the whole University to the police, all those who helped with the search and the thousands of people who shared the appeal for information.
“Daniel and his family and friends are in our thoughts.”
