Caroline Everest death: Police arrest rape suspect Published duration 25 November 2015

image copyright SYP image caption The body of Caroline Everest was discovered in Sheffield's Porter Brook river

A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape after the body of a missing 18-year-old student was discovered in a Sheffield river.

Caroline Everest, 18, was last seen at the Corporation nightclub in Milton Street in the early hours of Sunday.

Her body was discovered on Tuesday in the Porter Brook river, near Ecclesall Road. Her death is "unexplained".

South Yorkshire Police said a 31-year-old man was being held in custody for questioning.

A post-mortem examination was "inconclusive" as to the cause of death.

image copyright PA image caption The student was last seen at the Corporation nightclub in Milton Street in the early hours of Sunday

The force said Miss Everest, who was studying at Sheffield Hallam University, had been seen on CCTV leaving the Corporation at about 02:40 GMT on Sunday.

She was then seen moments later with a man outside the Devonshire Cat, in Wellington Street.

They are then seen parting company on Napier Street, in the Sharrow area of the city, at about 03:35, before Miss Everest was seen walking along Summerfield Street, in the direction of the Porter Brook at about 03:45.

image caption A map shows a timeline of Ms Everest's last known movements around the city

Det Ch Insp Victoria Short said: "At this time, we are treating Caroline's death as unexplained.

"A post-mortem examination was completed, however the cause of death was not established and the results were recorded as inconclusive. Further tests have now been requested."

She said the man had been arrested followed an extensive trawl of CCTV footage and the detective renewed an appeal for anyone who may have seen Miss Everest after she left the nightclub to come forward.

The teenager was reported missing by her family, who live about four miles away in the north of Sheffield, after she failed to turn up for a family dinner on Sunday.

Her body was found in the Porter Brook, which is little more than a stream, near Summerfield Street at about 03:45 on Tuesday.

'Sadly missed'

Sheffield Hallam University, where Miss Everest was studying biosciences and chemistry, said support was available for anyone affected by Ms Everest's death.

Tracey Lancaster, the university's director of corporate affairs, said: "Caroline was well liked by staff and fellow students on her biosciences and chemistry course and had made an excellent start to her studies.

"She will be very sadly missed and our thoughts at this time continue to be with her family and close friends, to whom we are offering support."

Flowers have been laid at the police cordon on Ecclesall Road. A note attached to one bunch reads: "RIP Caroline. Another young life taken too early. Thoughts are with your family at this sad time."

image caption Officers were seen searching the area around the Porter Brook on Tuesday

image copyright PA image caption The Porter Brook runs through an area of derelict land close to Ecclesall Road, where many Sheffield students live

Related Topics Sheffield