Megan Roberts was a kind-hearted, beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her.
So when the 20-year-old fine arts undergraduate left popular student venue Popworld on George Hudson Street last January, no one imagined that she would be caught up in a major missing person’s search.
Speaking to York Vision a year after her disappearance, Jackie Roberts, Megan’s mother, tells of the “overwhelmingly grief” after finding out that her daughter had drowned in one of the city’s rivers.
“It has been a year of great sadness and overwhelming grief which extended beyond our close family to the local community and the friends Megan had made in York during her time at university,” she says.
“We find strength from somewhere to keep going, and still have happy times as Megan wouldn’t want it any other way, but the enormity of our loss is often unbearable.”
Immediate fears after Megan was reported missing were that she had been abducted or murdered.
But it later emerged that the York St John University student had drowned in the River Ouse while making her way home.
Police believe that under the consumption of alcohol, Megan had become lost, taken a wrong turn and fell into the river.
Megan, who came from Wetherby in West Yorkshire, had been with friends on a night out.
CCTV footage shows her last known movements heading towards the foot of Lendal Bridge after she left Popworld in the early hours of Thursday 23 January.
Megan was reported missing on Monday 27 January and her body was found in Acaster Malbis near the Ship Inn on 2 March.
“Early on the morning of 27th January 2014 I picked up my phone and saw a message from one of Megan’s York St John’s University friends asking if Megan was with us in Wetherby,” Jackie says.
“From that moment on my world turned upside down and life has not, nor ever will be, the same again. For almost six weeks we, as a family, found our house full of police, supportive friends and the realisation that Megan was probably in the River Ouse in York.
“She had last been seen on a night out with several other students and no one remembered seeing Megan leave the club to walk home. Through CCTV footage the police managed to pinpoint her last known movements heading towards the foot of Lendal Bridge.
“It was, and still is akin to being in a horror story, or a bad dream; sadly not one we will ever wake up from.”
Following Megan’s tragic death, Jackie got involved with two charities: the Royal Life Saving Society and the York Rescueboat Charity.
Both charities work with the University of York and York St John to raise awareness into river safety.
“I found myself wanting to do whatever I could to help prevent similar tragedies such as Megan’s,” she explains.
“It was, for me, a way of keeping her memory alive; honouring her memory in a positive way. I believe it is a way of channelling grief.
“The Royal Life Saving Society is a drowning prevention charity and had initially contacted me via our police liaison officer to offer support. They could see I was talking to the media to raise awareness following Megan’s funeral and then asked if I would work with them to help them with their ‘don’t drink and drown’ campaign.
“They could see that action was being taken in York to improve river safety and raise awareness so their campaign was launched from the University of York Sport Centre. They have recently gained an all-party group in Parliament and hopefully this will help with support towards future work.
“A close friend of mine was attempting the Three Peaks Challenge and wanted to raise money in Megan’s memory. It was then that I became involved with the York Rescueboat charity.
“We had read about Dave Benson’s plans to help with the river safety issue and so the fundraising began, with my friend Jayne and her sister successfully completing the Three Peaks.”
On the same day Megan’s body was discovered, 22-year-old music store employee Ben Clarkson had been reported missing.
Ben, a former York St John student, was last seen outside Fibbers nightclub. His body was discovered in the River Foss.
And Tyler Pearson, an 18-year-old York-based 2nd Signal Regiment, was found in the River Ouse near The Lowther pub after a night out with friends just one month after Ben. According to police, he had been trying to swim to the far bank of the Queen’s Staith.
These series of events have prompted council officials, the University of York, York St John and local charities to improve river safety in the area.
But Jackie believes that the physical improvements to the river are taking “too long” to implement.
“There has been significant progress in river safety improvement during 2014, although some of the physical improvements to river bank safety are, in my opinion, taking too long,” she says.
“The RLSS and York Rescueboat charities together with the universities, local media and York City Council have put in significant work to raise the level of awareness.”
Despite increasing improvements, Jackie says students still need to be “aware of the dangers”.
“Some students appear to have really taken on board what to do to stay safe on a night out whereas others feel they are invincible,” she says.
“Get to know the area so you are aware of where the river is.
“At some point during your time in York you will be near the river, it’s unavoidable. Cold water and alcohol do not mix. You may be a strong swimmer, but rivers are cold and can affect your body’s ability to move within a few minutes. Stick together. Look out for each other.
“Know your limits with alcohol and drink water during your night out. Above all, have fun, enjoy what the beautiful city of York has to offer and get home safe.”
If you are interested in getting involved with the charities mentioned in this article or would like to find out further information on river safety in the local area then you can visit their respective websites by going to: YorkRescueboat.com and RoyalLifeSavingSociety.co.uk. Further information is also available from the City of York Council.
Jackie Roberts praises “very important” work by NightSafe scheme
The mother of a university student who drowned following a night out with friends has thanked the students’ union for setting up its NightSafe scheme.
Speaking to York Vision, Jackie Roberts said that the work being done by YUSU’s project was “very important” and that from a “parent’s perspective, [I] would like to thank them wholeheartedly for what they are doing”.
Jackie Roberts’ daughter, Megan, died following a night out with friends at popular student venue Popworld last year.
Police believe that the 20-year-old fine arts undergraduate from York St John University became lost, took a wrong turn and ended up falling into the River Ouse while under the influence of alcohol.
In response to her tragic death along with Ben Clarkson, a 22-year-old music shop employee whose body was found in the River Foss after his night out, YUSU set up NightSafe in an attempt to prevent further tragedies.
Jackie said: “As part of the NightSafe scheme students from York University are involved in patrolling the streets of York on busy nights to look out for vulnerable people and help make sure they stay safe.
“I personally feel this is very important work and from a parent’s perspective would like to thank them wholeheartedly for what they are doing. I am sure many other parents feel the same.”
“If there is anything the Student Union needs to help with this work please let me know as I am sure York City Council would be pleased to offer further support if needed.”
NightSafe is a project similar to the Street Angels scheme.The student-led initiative covers key areas of the city centre every student night, giving out water and food, making sure assistance is there for people who need it.