Body found by police in Epping Forest lake confirmed as Richard Okorogheye

Body found by police in Epping Forest lake has been confirmed as missing Richard Okorogheye. Richard's death is being treated as "unexplained", the Metropolitan Police said, and officers do not believe, at this stage, there was any third-party involvement.

The 19-year-old left his family home in the Ladbroke Grove area of west London on the evening of 22 March, boarded a bus, and later took a 20-mile taxi ride from the W2 area of the capital to a residential street in Loughton, Essex.

The Oxford Brookes student, who had sickle cell disease, had been struggling to cope with shielding for the past year and had not taken his daily medication with him. A post mortem examination took place on Wednesday and found no evidence of physical trauma or assault.
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The force said the cause of death is pending while further investigations are carried out. Detective superintendent Danny Gosling, head of the Met's central west public protection unit, said: "My deepest sympathies go out to Richard's family at this incredibly difficult time.

Our condolences go out to Richard Okorogheye's friends and family.