DETECTIVES BELIEVE a body recovered from the River Thames in February is that of missing student Samaria Ayanle.

Met Police say Samaria’s family and friends have been informed of this development and the family will be supported at this difficult time.

The 19-year-old was first reported missing to police by university staff on Friday, March 8.

An investigation was launched and CCTV enquiries found that Samaria was last seen at her university accommodation near to Marble Arch in the early hours of Thursday, February 22.

Police say a proactive appeal was issued on March 12.

On February 22, just before 8.20am, police were called by a member of the public to a body on the north foreshore near Putney Pier.

The body was recovered and no personal property was found.

Officers say they also conducted fingerprint tests but these were negative.

Police checked recent missing persons reports but the body did not match the description of any other persons reported missing around that time.

The body was sent to the Coroner to conduct further checks and details were uploaded onto the UK Missing Persons database in the hopes the person might be identified.

After Samaria was reported missing, officers linked their enquiries to the 22 February discovery on Wednesday, 13 March.

The Met say they have viewed body-worn video from then and believe the person found is Samaria.

Formal identification is yet to take place. The Met say her death is being treated as unexplained, pending further enquiries.

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