A YOUNG man who was found in the River Colne12 days after he disappeared died after being immersed in water, an inquest has heard. 

Noel Haruna, who had previously studied law at Essex University, was living in Albany Gardens in Colchester with a group of friends whilst he worked for Dominoes.

A search was launched in October last year when Noel went missing after a night out at Trilogy nightclub.

Noel had gone out with two friends on the evening of Saturday, October 21, to the nightclub where the three are said to have had a VIP table.

He was last seen in the area of East Street and East Hill, in Colchester, in the early hours of Sunday, October 22.

Noel was tragically found in the River Colne 12 days later.

Gazette: Search - Essex Police shared frequent appeals for Noel Haruna, who was 26Search - Essex Police shared frequent appeals for Noel Haruna, who was 26 (Image: Public)

Area coroner for Essex, Michelle Brown, formally opened the inquest into Noel, 26, on Tuesday.

She told the inquest in Chelmsford how a post-mortem examination was carried out five days after Noel was found.

She said: “Noel Haruna died on November 3, 2023.

“This 26-year-old was discovered deceased in the River Colne near Essex University on that date.

“He had been a missing person since October 22 and was found at 3pm.

“Police officers confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances and no third-party involvement.”

She continued: “A post-mortem was conducted on November 8, and a provisional cause of death was given as 1A, consistent with immersion.”

It has not been confirmed whether there will be full inquest to establish if Noel’s death was avoidable.

Noel’s mother Gloria Haruna said the family was aware inquest proceedings had begun and told the Gazette the family still had questions about his death.

Gazette: Hearing - an inquest was opened at Seax House, Chelmsford, on TuesdayHearing - an inquest was opened at Seax House, Chelmsford, on Tuesday (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Full inquests take place when a doctor cannot be certain the death is natural or if there is a possibility a medical procedure was a contributing factor.

Should a full inquest go ahead, a coroner can call witnesses to give evidence at a public hearing.

If a full inquest is not held then it is likely there will be what is known as a documentary inquest where a coroner only looks at evidence on paper.