Student turned away from nightclub found dead in Lincoln canal

A body has been found in the search for a university student who went missing after leaving a nightclub in Lincoln.

Connor Calleja, a 20-year-old Lincoln University student, was last seen on CCTV walking along University Bridge, Lincoln, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Connor’s stepdad, John Lewis, previously said that Connor had disappeared after he was denied entry to a nightclub called Home and tried to make his way back to his accommodation.

Today, officers at Lincolnshire Police said they had discovered the body of a man while conducting a search for Connor in the Foss bank body of water near The Brayford in Lincoln.

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘While formal identification has yet to take place, we believe this to be the body of 20-year-old Connor who was last seen in Lincoln on Sunday 11 January 2026.

‘His family have been made aware and are being supported by specially trained officers.

‘There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

‘We ask the public and members of the media to respect the family’s privacy at this very difficult time.

‘We would like to thank everyone who shared our appeal and those who contacted us to share information.’

In a later update on Facebook, Connor’s stepdad wrote: ‘It’s with our deepest regret to have to inform everyone that Connor has died.

‘I am sure you will all understand that we are trying to deal with everything at the moment.

‘No words can describe how upset, sad and devastating this is for us.’

The University of Lincoln said in a statement posted online: ‘At this very difficult time, our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with all those affected by the loss of one of our students, Connor Calleja, especially family, friends, and those closest to him.

‘We ask that their grief and privacy are respected.

‘Connor was a much-loved member of our community and we know many staff and students will be shocked and saddened by this tragic news. Please take care of yourselves and each other.’

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