Body Found in Thames Believed to be Missing Student Samaria Ayanle

A body recovered from the Thames in London last month is believed to be that of missing student Samaria Ayanle, according to the Metropolitan Police. The 19-year-old was last seen in CCTV footage at her university accommodation near Marble Arch on February 22. The body was found near Putney Pier later that morning. Ms Ayanle was first reported missing by university staff on March 8.

More than two weeks earlier, on February 22, police were alerted by a member of the public to a body on the north foreshore of the Thames near Putney Pier. The body had no personal belongings, and initial fingerprint tests yielded no matches. Despite checking recent missing persons reports, the body did not correspond to any known missing individuals during that period.

Officers transferred the recovered body to the coroner for further examination, while sharing details on the UK Missing Persons database in the hopes of identification. Linking their inquiries to the discovery on February 22, police now believe the body to be that of Ms Ayanle after reviewing body-worn video footage from the time.

Formal identification is pending, and the circumstances of Ms Ayanle’s death are currently categorized as unexplained, pending further investigation by the authorities. The student attended SOAS University of London in Bloomsbury, where she was pursuing a degree in Japanese and the History of Art.

SOAS University expressed deep sadness at the news while offering condolences to Ms Ayanle’s family, friends, and the university community. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police on 101. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as they develop.