A STUDENT has plunged to his death from a high rise flat complex in Southampton.

It is thought the 20-year-old man may have fallen around 60ft from one of the student blocks at Liberty Quays, a dedicated accommodation complex for university students.

Fellow students living in the tower blocks are understood to have witnessed what happened and are now being offered counselling.

Paramedics battled to save the University of Southampton student before taking him to Southampton General Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Hampshire police confirmed they had been called to the building on Dukes Street near to the city centre after a man's body was discovered on the ground outside the complex which is made up of various towers - some up to 16 floors high.

South Central Ambulance Service said that they had taken the man to hospital with life threatening injuries which he had suffered after falling from a height.

An investigation was launched but inquiries found no suspicious circumstances and the file has now been past to the Hampshire coroner.

An inquest has yet to be opened that will examine the circumstances which led to the death of the student, but that is expected to take place in coming days.

Meanwhile students at the complex have been sent letters by Liberty Living, the organisation which manages the property, urging them to seek support if they witnessed or feel in any way affected by what happened.

Yesterday fellow residents spoke of their shock and sadness at news of the young man's death.

Mareus Hentzchel, 23, was watching television in bed when he saw a large police presence below his flat.

He said: "I looked out and was completely confused.

"There was someone lying on the pavement and three or four police cars.

"I didn't know who he was but the next day there was police tape across his door. We heard from other students he fell from the eighth or ninth floor or from the roof."

Brocky Hardcastle, 20, a Solent University student who lives in nearby halls said: " I heard the person who witnessed it had to take time off. It's sad, especially someone so young."

John -Jay Mooney, 17, said: "I feel sorry him and for everyone involved - especially people that saw it. It's one of the worst things."

A 20 - year old student living on the third floor of Liberty's C block said: "It's really sad. But we heard he got up to the roof.

“We all got letters asking that if we had been affected by it we should call up."