Harvey Parker. (Met Police)
Police have confirmed that a body recovered from the River Thames this week is missing student Harvey Parker.
Having been missing for three weeks, this week the Met Police were contacted by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) about the discovery of a body in the River Thames, which was later recovered by the Met’s Marine Support Unit near where Parker was last captured on CCTV.
On Thursday (6 January), the Inner West London Coroner’s Court “confirmed the body as being Harvey Parker, 20”, who was queer, autistic and a talented musician.
Detective chief inspector Lucy O’Connor, of the Central South Command Unit, said in a statement: “We are providing Harvey’s family with all the available information. We are also asking for media to please respect the family’s privacy at this challenging and difficult time.”
We are devastated to hear the news about Harvey Parker, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Rest in peace #HarveyParker 🤍
— UK BLACK PRIDE (@ukblackpride) January 6, 2022
The 20-year-old went missing last month, and was last seen leaving the LGBT+ Heaven nightclub in Charring Cross in the early hours of 17 December.
Addressing the discovery of Parker’s body, their family released a statement in which they said: “We are so very sad to report that police have recovered a body from the Thames… Our deepest thanks to all of you who searched with us, posted, shared, and supported us and the Met police in finding Harvey.
“Your love and support ensured so many people knew something of the blazing, glorious person that we were lucky to have in our lives.”
Parker’s family told those who wanted to help that a Just Giving page had been set up in honour of the University of York student.
A fundraising page has been set up in memory of Harvey Parker, who was just 20 when he sadly lost his life, after being reported missing in December.
The money raised will fund support groups for LGBTQ+ young people 💜
You can donate here👇https://t.co/bbePm0R4U1 pic.twitter.com/eRk3GCRQ2W
— JustGiving (@JustGiving) January 6, 2022
They said: “Money raised will go to young queer support groups, neurodiverse and gender-diverse young people who’d benefit from emotional or mental health support and to help support talented musicians from under-represented communities.”
The fundraiser surpassed its initial goal of £10,000 in a matter of hours, and has now raised almost £50,000.