The body of a student who went missing on a night out with friends was recovered from the River Avon this morning – more than three weeks after he disappeared.
Tragic James Bubear, 19, left Vodka Revolution in Bath, Somerset, at around 10.30pm on Sunday 13 March and walked off alone.
The media student at Bath Spa University never made contact with friends and family and earlier searches of the River Avon proved fruitless.
But officers finally recovered a body believed to be James from the river in Twerton, Bath, this morning after receiving a report from an Environment Agency.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary have not formally identified the body yesterday but an informal announcement was made on Facebook confirming the identity.
Chief Inspector Simon Ellis said: ”At this stage we are unable to formally identify that body, but we believe it is that of James Bubear who went missing on the night of March 13th.
”We have spoken to James’s family and are keeping them fully informed.
”The matter is now in the hands of the Coroner who will carry out a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death and formally identify the body.”
More than 12,000 joined a Facebook group dedicated to finding James and hundreds of people marched through Bath last Saturday (26/3) to raise awareness.
Devastated friends posted tributes on the social networking site as the tragic news spread across the campus.
Julie Daly wrote: ”R.I.P JAMES none of us wanted to hear this news… we were hanging on to every little bit of hope there was.. thoughts are with your family at this time” [sic]
A message from Diana Ridout said: ”It is with the deepest sadness that I heard the news.
”James meant so much to so many people and now there is a James shaped hole in the world.”
Its truly tragic, and what i find awful is that this didn’t get the media coverage it deserved. How is it any different to what happened to Sian O’Callaghan?
This is a tragedy. But I whole heartedly disagree with the lack of coverage.
As someone who divides their time between Swindon and Bath I think there was equal coverage. And whats more I believe that if anything positive can be taken from these horrific events its the respectful/diligent media coverage and the relatively swift action of the police. RIP James and Sian
I think guests point is true in that there was lots of coverage about James in Bath but not nationally like with Sian which is still the case.
I was a close friend of James and am comforted by the amount of people who helped on our campaign to find him. I miss him terribly but at least now we can mourn him and remember him.
As the parent of a first year Bath Spa student I can feel the anguish of Jame’s family. I have 2 boys aged 19 and 24 and I still worry each time they are out of the home.
Dosn’t any one think it strange that both James Bubear and Casper flagg both were found dead in the river Avon after a night out socializing in Bath. Both within a short time of one another.
i think it is terrible because he looks like a decent type of man