The man has been named as Max Mian, a 19-year-old undergraduate at Brasenose College
The body of a promising Oxford University student has been found on the roof of a shopping centre.
The man has been named as Max Mian, a 19-year-old undergraduate at Brasenose College.
He was discovered on the roof area of Westgate shopping centre by builders earlier this week.
Thames Valley Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.
Tragically it has emerged the 19-year-old had just returned to the city to begin his second year at university.
Tributes have been paid to the student described as ‘brilliant’ and ‘popular’ by his principal.
The Health and Safety Executive was notified of the death and a spokesman confirmed they were assisting police with the investigation.
They will assist in finding out how Mr Mian got onto the building site after it had been locked down for the night and if he had fallen from a higher level and how he died way before his body was discovered on the roof of a new John Lewis department store.
Tragically it has emerged the 19-year-old had just returned to the city to begin his second year at university where he read Classics (pictured above, Brasenose College)
Mr Mian, originally from Norwich, Norfolk, was described as ‘a brilliant and popular student’ by friends and academics at Brasenose College.
Principle of the College John Bowers said: ‘Max was a brilliant and popular student and we all miss him greatly.
‘Our thoughts are especially with his family and friends and everyone at the college is doing all we can to help and support them and each other at such a difficult time.’
Miles Overton, president of the the college Junior Common Room, said: ‘Max was a popular, much-loved member of the Brasenose Junior Common Room.
‘His tragic death has deeply shocked us all, but the supportive community in which we live has come together at this difficult time.
‘Our thoughts are especially with Max’s family and friends, and we in the JCR will always feel his loss.’
Builders discovered a body on the roof of Westgate Shopping Centre in Oxford (pictured) earlier this week
A college spokesman added: ‘The family have been informed and the college has met with them and expressed its sympathy and support. College students and staff have also been informed and offered counselling and support.’
The headteacher of his former school in Norwich, Stephen Griffiths, also paid tribute to him. ‘I am deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Max Mian, who was a much loved member of Norwich School,’ he said.
‘Max was a very gifted all-rounder, with a particular love of classics. Our sympathies are with his family and many friends.
‘They are in the thoughts and prayers of the Norwich School community.
‘We ask that the privacy of the family and the school is respected at this time.’
A spokesman for the Westgate Oxford Alliance, an organisation behind the new shopping centre in Oxford, added: ‘We can confirm that the incident which occurred on the Westgate Oxford site on October 2 did not involve a construction worker.
‘Work will continue on-site ahead of the public opening on October 24 and we are continuing to support the emergency services with their ongoing investigations.’
The Michaelmas Term begins at the Oxford University on Monday. This week freshers have been going to induction courses about life at the university.