Police have confirmed that a body has been discovered following a widespread missing person search for a 20-year-old Loughborough University student who vanished nearly a month ago.
Aryan Sharma, a robotics student from London, was last seen on November 22. According to Leicestershire Police, a report of a sighting in the water led to a recovery operation in the River Soar near Normanton on Soar. Although formal identification is currently pending, investigators believe the deceased is Sharma. The tragic discovery was announced bringing a sombre conclusion to a search that involved specialist divers, police helicopters, and drones.
The search for Sharma began after he left his accommodation at approximately 9:30 PM on November 21. He was later captured on CCTV footage in the early hours of November 22 at 12:30 AM, walking along Meadow Lane on the outskirts of Loughborough towards the rural Stanford on Soar area. Detective Inspector Jonathan Dickens, leading the investigation, had previously expressed “increasing concern” for the student, describing the search area as particularly difficult due to its rural nature and plummeting winter temperatures. During the intensive 26-day operation, Leicestershire Search and Rescue teams worked alongside the National Police Air Service (NPAS) and specialist underwater units to scour miles of riverbanks and woodland.
Sharma’s parents, Sukhi and Rakesh Sharma, had issued an emotional appeal earlier this month, describing their son as a "gentle and pleasant individual" who spoke to them daily. He was an aspiring aeronautical engineer with dreams of joining the Royal Air Force (RAF). His mother made a heart-wrenching plea for his return, noting that the family was waiting to celebrate his upcoming 21st birthday and the Christmas holidays.
The investigation is now transitioning to an inquest, with Leicestershire Police preparing a formal file for HM Coroner to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Sharma's death. Specialist officers remain in contact with the Sharma family, who have requested privacy as they process the loss of a loved son and brother. The local community in Stanford on Soar and Loughborough, which had rallied to help with the search, has been left in shock by the recovery. A floral tribute is expected to be organised by fellow robotics students at the university campus over the weekend.
