Students are paying tribute to Frederick Archer Joy – a fresher at the University of Sheffield who died tragically after a night out visiting friends in Leeds.
Eighteen-year-old Frederick, who studied Hispanic and Czech Studies, collapsed on the bathroom floor of a friend’s flat at the Boddington Halls of Residence at Leeds University on March 13.
He was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary but his condition deteriorated and he was referred to intensive care.
The teenager from Bristol, known as Fred or Freddy to friends, was pronounced dead on Monday, March 15.
First year Leeds University student George Vousden went to sixth form with Fred and found him collapsed on his bathroom floor.
He said: “He had come up here to celebrate a friend’s birthday, we had been on the Otley Run bar crawl.
“Fred didn’t get into the club so I went back home with him in a taxi. He collapsed in the toilets and I rang an ambulance.
“You just don’t think something like this is going to happen, it was such a mess.
“Of course if he had not come to Leeds this may not have happened, but I know I did what I could when I found him that night.”
Friend Matthew Abbott, a second-year biomedical student at the University of Sheffield, said: “I feel extremely proud to have known Fred. My friendship with him was very important to me and he had a big impact on my life.
“He was one of the most happy, fun-loving, kind, light-hearted and joyful people I have ever met.
“People were drawn to him because of his wonderful personality and love for life.
“Fred was a great friend, and above all, a great person. Everybody loved Fred and I for one will always cherish the memories we made together.”
Adrian Champion is director of the sixth form at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School in Bristol and taught Frederick at A-level.
He said: “With Freddy, what you saw was what you got, with no unnecessary airs or graces. He was a good student, but one who never took life too seriously.
“At the same time he was quietly determined to do well and move on to the next stage at university, something which he really looked forward to.
“Freddy was one of life’s genuinely nice people and it is this impression which will remain with us.”
Although the cause of Frederick’s death is still under investigation, early reports by West Yorkshire Police suggest that “excessive drinking” was to blame, said Leeds Coroner David Hinchliff.
At the opening of the inquest, Mr Hinchcliff said: “It’s excessive drinking, sometimes known as binge drinking, that can be really dangerous.”
Large quantities of alcohol can cause “sudden death” by poisoning or disrupting gag reflux.
Debora Green, assistant director of Student Services at the University of Sheffield, said: “We have been in touch with Fred’s family to offer support and our deepest condolences.
“Tutors in his academic departments are offering support to Fred’s classmates and members of the University’s mentoring team have also visited his flatmates to ensure they are aware of the services available to them.”
First year student Andrew Wylie lived next to Frederick.
He said: “Fred was the first person I met here at Sheffield.
From that moment onwards we quickly became friends – he was the best friend anyone could hope for.
“Always laughing and smiling he was there at the end of every day to make everything seem so relaxed.
“Of the countless amazing things that I will miss about him, what I’ll miss most is his laugh, anybody that heard it would soon be laughing themselves.”
His friends and family must now await the outcome of the inquest to confirm the cause of Frederick’s death.
But Debora Green said: “No matter what the outcome tells us, it is impossible to convey the sense of loss and tragedy.”