The five-week search for missing Newcastle man Zakaria Chowdhury is over, after police announced a body has been found.
Zakaria, aged 20, was reported missing after he was last seen in the early hours of Friday 7 February in Newcastle city centre.
Teams, including specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Drone and Marine Units, and Dog Section, were involved in efforts to locate him – as were members of his family and friends, who mounted a determined effort to follow up several reported sightings.
His body was located on Friday 14 March, in the River Tyne on the Newcastle Quayside.
The family continue to be supported by specially-trained officers and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.
On Tuesday 18 March Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Ashurst, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an incredibly tragic outcome, and our thoughts are with Zakaria’s loved ones at this difficult time.
“We will continue to support them in any way we can and we’d ask that their privacy is respected.
“We’d like to thank everyone who shared our appeals, contacted us with information and supported our search activity.”
The police statement came after members of Zakaria’s family posted a moving ‘Rest In Peace’ message on social media.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” it said. “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we return.”
The statement, from Zakaria’s older brother Arif Chowdhury continues: “My younger brother Zakaria Chowdhury has passed away. You had your whole life ahead of you but Allah had better plans for you. May Allah grant you the highest rank in Jannah and reunite us in Jannah.
“I will miss you so much but InshAllah we will meet again in Jannah. Love you so much little brother.” The post was accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Others in the Facebook ‘Find Zakaria Chowdhury’ group – which had more than 900 members – echoed Arif’s sentiments. “So sad thinking of you all xxx,” said one. “My heart is broken for Zak and his beautiful family … May you rest easy in the hands of Allah … so sorry for your loss xx,” added another.
Zakaria, also known as Zak, was last seen in the area of Newcastle’s High Level Bridge. He had left home in Holystone in the early hours of the morning, taking a taxi towards the city centre. He snapped a photo of the High Level Bridge over the River Tyne with his phone and posted it to friends – then nothing more was heard.
Zak had previously been described as ‘a quiet boy, quite naïve and not mature for his age’. He was studying computer science and cybersecurity at Sunderland University, where he also had a wellbeing mentor.
While stressing that no judgements should be made until the full facts are known, Newcastle City Councillor and former Lord Mayor Habib Rahman said the case raised questions about attitudes towards mental health among young men, and in the Asian community.
“We don’t know what Zak was thinking or feeling, so I make no claims about what happened to him, but there is a wider issue,” he said.
“There is a negative stigma, perhaps even a taboo, surrounding mental health in some sections of our community. The risk is that this could hold back individuals or families from seeking help.
“Help is there, though, from a number of different agencies. If it can prevent the loss of a life in the future, people need to reach out for support in times of need.”
Help and support for men is available from andysmanclub.co.uk. The charity Inspirited Minds offers faith-based mental health advice, with a particular focus on Islamic communities, via inspiritedminds.org.uk.
