Student thrown from bridge
A recent crime spate in Oxford culminated in a student being mugged and thrown off Magdalen Bridge in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The police are currently searching for two men who pushed the 20 year-old male over Magdalen Bridge after stealing his mobile phone and wallet. Authorities in Oxford are also warning students in the area to be extra vigilant.
James Hunter, a student at the European School of Management, was found by amulance crews on the riverbank, after being helped from the water by two passers-by in the grounds of Magdalen College shortly after 2.50am.
He was later taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital suffering from minor injuries sustained whilst being pinned against, and then thrown over the bridge by the two men. The offenders are both believed to be white males aged 35 to 40. Despite being chased by witnesses, the two men escaped, running towards the direction of Iffley Road.
A student from Sheffield University, Gary Barnett, who was visiting a friend from Wadham on the night in question, was one of the first on the scene to help. He told The OxStu: "It is extremely worrying, he's a really lucky guy, incredibly lucky. He could walk but was dazed. A fall like that could have killed him."
Lucy Ferguson, from Thames Valley Police, told The OxStu that they have not yet received any other information from the public.
This incident comes after a vicious bout of crime in Oxford, and police are currently investigating a series of incidents that took place over the weekend. A taxi driver was threatened at knife-point by three men in Headington in the early hours of Saturday morning, and a 13-year-old boy was also robbed at 1.15pm on Saturday, by a group of around 15 youths surrounded him on Little Clarendon Street. Violent robberies also occurred in Marston and Summertown this weekend.
Several female students talking to The OxStu said that these incidents have made them much more wary and nervous. Students are urged to be careful when walking alone at night.
22nd Jan 2004