Student dies in window fall horror after party

A YOUNG Edinburgh University medical student has died in a tragic incident after falling from a window following a party with fellow students.
Ben McLean. Picture: CompBen McLean. Picture: Comp
Ben McLean. Picture: Comp

Police were called to an address in West Preston Street, Newington, on Friday at 9am where they found a man’s body in the rear garden.

The victim has been named locally as Ben McLean, who is believed to have been a second-year student at Edinburgh University’s Medical School.

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It is understood he had been at a party at the address the night before and the other people in the flat were asleep when the incident occurred.

The death is currently being treated as unexplained by the police but it is understood he fell from a second floor window.

The 22-year-old came from Barrhead, in East Renfrewshire, and he was a former pupil at St Luke’s High School in the town, according to his public Facebook page.

Heartfelt tributes have flooded in on social media to the tragic student, who was described as “true gent” by friends.

Sister Megan McLean posted on Twitter: “Please let me wake up with this having been a twisted nightmare, Ben was too young, too smart and too brilliant for it to end like this.”-

She added: “My best friend, I love you Ben and I refuse to accept that this is happening, you deserved so much more out of life.”

His cousin Connor John McInlay said: “RIP Ben, you were far too young and smart,

“I’m proud to be your Big Cousin. RIP wee cousin.”

Fellow medical student Pavel Sharma posted on Twitter: “Been in shock for the last 24hrs & it still hasn’t sunk in.

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“RIP Ben, you will be forever loved and missed. My thoughts are with your family.”

He said: “He was a great guy - funny, friendly, smart, enthusiastic, a true gent. Taken too soon. Thanks for being awesome. X”

Andrew Hobson tweeted: “Sometimes life sucks. Devastated to hear of the passing of a truly wonderful guy.

“My thoughts are with your family at this time. RIP Ben.”

Lucy Bryce added: “Some of the nicest things I’ve ever heard came from @benmclean57. Such an amazing, down to earth and genuine guy. Taken far too early, RIP.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Officers from Police Scotland in Edinburgh have charged a 19-year-old man with drugs supply offences following the discovery of a body on Friday morning in a rear garden at West Preston Street, Edinburgh.”

He said the man was expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

An Edinburgh University spokesperson said the institution did not comment on individual cases.