A 20-year-old Lincoln University student was found dead in a canal in Lincoln after going missing following a nightclub rejection
Body Found in Search for Missing Lincoln University Student
A body has been discovered 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 in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Connor’s stepdad, John Lewis, stated that Connor disappeared after being denied entry to a nightclub called Home and tried to return to his accommodation.
Today, Lincolnshire Police announced they found the body of a man while searching for Connor in the Foss bank body of water near The Brayford in Lincoln.
A spokesperson for the police 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 released a statement saying, “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.”
Summary of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 11 January 2026 | Connor Calleja last seen on CCTV |
| Today | Body found in Foss bank |
| Post-discovery | Police believe body is Connor Calleja |
| Post-update | Family informed and supported |
