A STUDENT who died in the River Ouse has been awarded his university degree posthumously, nine months after his death.

Pierre Le Moignan was studying towards a bachelor of science in chemistry at the University of York until his death last November at the age of 21.

A spokesman for the university said Pierre was a good student, and the graduation was the wish of his parents.

He said: “Pierre Le Moignan was an able and resourceful student who was part-way through the final year of a four-year Master of Chemistry degree when he died.

“In his first three years, he had fulfilled the requirements for a BSc and that was the degree that was conferred posthumously in July. It was the wish of Pierre’s family that he graduated. It is not unprecedented, though thankfully rare, for the university to award degrees posthumously.”

An inquest at Selby Magistrates’ Court heard in November that although Pierre was born in Guernsey and had virtually grown up on a boat, he was terrified of water and could not swim.

The student was last seen alive at about 10pm on November 21 last year, and was described by a housemate as quiet and uncomfortable in social situations.

Clothes and a mobile phone belonging to Pierre were found by a walker on Millennium Bridge, along with a note which read: “21 November 2009, 11.18pm”.

Police found another note at the student’s accommodation in Seventh Avenue, Tang Hall, which read: “You have all been wonderful. Overall I think it went fairly well. I’m sorry, love”.

North Yorkshire coroner Rob Turnbull recorded Pierre had taken his own life, but said there was no known reason why he had chosen to do so.

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