Pictured: Son of Cambridge academic, 19, who died in halls at Manchester University
Pictured: Student, 19, who died in halls at Manchester University after suffering ‘severe anxiety’ during campus lockdown – as his Cambridge academic father criticises the lack of support given to his son
- Student who died at University of Manchester is named by family as Finn Kitson
- The 19-year-old was staying at the university’s Fallowfield Campus when he died
- Officials say his death is not Covid related and not being treated as suspicious
- Family hit out at lockdowns on students which they say cause ‘severe anxiety’
Finn Kitson, 19, was found dead at halls of residence at the University of Manchester
The son of a leading Cambridge academic died in his university halls of residence after suffering with ‘severe anxiety’ during a coronavirus lockdown on campus, his family say.
Finn Kitson, 19, was found dead at halls of residence at the University of Manchester 11 days ago came after a spike in Covid-19 in cases in the city.
The surge in cases resulted in hundreds of students self-isolating and others at neighbouring university Manchester Metropolitan forced into lockdown.
Officials say the death of Mr Kitson, who was staying at the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield campus, was not Covid-19 related. Police also said they were treating it as non-suspicious.
A video shared by Cambridge Celts FC manager Nic Mitham today showed the joyous moment Mr Kitson, wearing the number 10 shirt, was surrounded by his team mates as they celebrated a goal he had scored.
It was an honour to manage Finn Kitson at Cambridge Celts and I’ll always remember him for playing the game that he loved. Rest in peace Finn. pic.twitter.com/zyhifdaB8a
— Nic Mitham (@nicmitham) October 14, 2020
Finn Kitson, left, joins his Cambridge Celts team mates to celebrate him scoring a goal, in a video shared by the team’s manager Nic Mitham
Mr Mitham tweeted a tribute along with the video reading: ‘It was an honour to manage Finn Kitson at Cambridge Celts and I’ll always remember him for playing the game that he loved. Rest in peace Finn.’
But yesterday Mr Kitson’s father, Michael Kitson, 61, hit out at the ‘little support’ students have been receiving while locked down in a tribute tweet to his son.
Mr Kitson is the son of leading Cambridge academic Michael Kitson (pictured)
Mr Kitson, who is an economist at Cambridge Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, reacted to media reports which stated that his death ‘isn’t related to coronavirus’.
‘This is untrue,’ he wrote. ‘If you lockdown young people because of Covid-19 with little support, then you should expect that they suffer severe anxiety.
‘The student referred to below is our son – and we love and miss him so much.’ Mr Kitson added that he was ‘so concerned for all the young people who are suffering so much stress at this time’.
‘The student referred to below is our son – and we love and miss him so much.’
Other members of the family have also paid tribute, including sister Beth Kitson.
Responding to a post by her father on Twitter, she said: ‘My wonderful kind and darling brother. He is and will always be so loved.’
She urged those reading the tweet to donate to charities Mind and Samaritans.
Since Mr Kitson’s tweet, there has been outpouring of sympathy, with scores of people paying tribute to him on Twitter and offering sympathy to his shattered parents and siblings Beth and Harry, 26.
Finn (No 10) is seen scoring a goal while playing for Cambridge Celts in the video shared by manager Mr Mitham
Mr Kitson, a former Cambridge City FC youth player, was discovered at the university’s Fallowfield Halls residential centre on October 8.
In an initial tweet, his father said: ‘Our beautiful brilliant son and brother has passed away. We are all devastated. Please give anything you can towards mental health charities.’
Players at his former team, Cambridge City FC, also stood for a minute’s silence in tribute at their ground.
Dr Simon Merrywest, director for student experience at the University of Manchester, said: ‘We can confirm that very sadly one of our students was found deceased in their hall of residence at around 5pm on Thursday, October 8.
‘We are providing all possible support to their family and friends and our utmost sympathies go out to them.
‘The family have asked us to make it clear that this incident is not Covid-19-related and that they would wish to see their privacy respected at this difficult time.
‘The university is working closely with the Manchester’s Coroner’s Office, so we will not be able to comment any further.’
Mr Kitson’s death came just days after two 18-year-old freshers died in a Newcastle University student accommodation block after they were thought to have taken class-B drug ketamine.
In separate incidents, an 18-year-old man from nearby Washington, died on Saturday and a 21-year-old Northumbria University student died the same weekend as Finn after allegedly taking drugs.
Mr Kitson, a former Cambridge City FC youth player, was discovered at the university’s Fallowfield Halls residential centre
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: ‘At around 5pm on Thursday, October 8, police received a report of concern for the welfare of a man at a property off Moseley Road, Manchester.
‘Emergency services attended and a 19-year-old man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
‘His next of kin has been informed. There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.’
At the time of Mr Kiton’s death, Fallowfield was one of the worst-hit student areas for coronavirus outbreaks in Britain with 5 per cent of people testing positive for the disease in the week ending October 2.
The University of Manchester, where there have been more than 1,000 cases since September 21, shifted to online learning earlier this month.
However, students were not put into lockdown, unlike students at neighbouring Manchester Metropolitan University, where more than 1,000 students were told to remain in their halls of residence after a Covid-19 outbreak.
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details
