A man has been found dead in the River Cam as family and friends pay tribute to a “beloved son”.
Police were called to the area around Stourbridge Common, Cambridge, at about 6am on Friday, 9 October, following a report of a person in the water.
A man’s body was recovered near the common at about 4:30pm, after a search lasting much of the day.
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Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the death was being treated as non-suspicious and that a file would be prepared for the coroner, as reported by Need To Know.
A cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
Family and friends have identified the man as Kenyan Nelbert Kipruto Rirei, who had previously studied biomedical science at Anglia Ruskin University.
The university confirmed that Nelbert had been enrolled on its BSc Biomedical Science course but was no longer a student at the time of his death.
Nelbert’s friends and members of the Kenyan community gathered beside the river on Friday, 16 October, to lay flowers and support his family.
St Luke’s Cheptiret ACK Church in Kenya offered condolences to his parents, Mr and Mrs Philip Rirei, describing Nelbert as their “beloved son” and a “cherished member of our church and youth fraternity”.
In a Facebook tribute, the church added: “We stand with the family in prayer during this difficult time. May God grant you strength, comfort, and peace.”
Friend Maimuna Jelagat has launched a fundraiser to help bring Nelbert’s body home to Kenya.
She wrote: “He was a brother and a friend to many and the circumstances of his death are unclear.”
The appeal has a £6,500 target.
Maimuna said donations would go towards repatriation and supporting his family following his sudden death.
Reports from the Kenyan community say Nelbert had not returned home after work the previous evening.
Jam Press has contacted Cambridgeshire Constabulary for an update on the circumstances of his death and whether a post-mortem examination has taken place.
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