Samaria Ayanle: Body recovered from Thames believed to be missing SOAS student

A body recovered from the River Thames last month is believed to be that of missing student Samaria Ayanle.

The 19-year-old was reported missing by staff at SOAS university on Friday March 8. She was a first year student studying for a BA in Japanese and the history of art.

Samaria was last seen on CCTV footage at her university accommodation near Marble Arch in the early hours of February 22. 

The Met Police launched an appeal to the public on Tuesday saying, officers were growing increasingly concerned for her welfare and encouraged anyone who knew of her whereabouts to come forward.

On Wednesday evening Scotland Yard said it now believes a body found in the River Thames in the early hours of February 22 is that of Samaria.

Police were called by a member of the public to a body on the north foreshore near Putney Pier. The body was recovered. No personal property was found.

The Met said officers checked recent missing persons reports but the body did not match the description of any other persons reported missing at around that time.

The recovered body was sent to the coroner to conduct further checks and details were uploaded onto the UK Missing Persons database, the Met said.

After Samaria was reported missing officers linked their enquiries to the February 22 discovery on Wednesday March 13. They have viewed body worn video from then and believe the person found is Samaria.

Formal identification awaits. Samaria's death is being treated as unexplained, pending further enquiries.

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SOAS University released a statement saying: “We are deeply saddened to hear that police have discovered a body which is believed to be that of Samaria Ayanle, who was a first year student at SOAS University of London, studying for a BA in Japanese and the History of Art.

“Our thoughts are with her family, loved ones and friends at this difficult time.”

Anyone with information that could help police should call 101 ref 01/60807/24. You can also share via @MetCC on X.