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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Sarah Ward & John-Paul Clark

Tragic Scots student dies in his sleep on adventure holidays in French Alps

A Scots student has died in his sleep whilst on an adventure holiday in the French Alps.

Tragic Oliver Vaux died suddenly on May 26 after returning from a boat trip on a nearby river.

The 20-year-old was studying at the University of St Andrews and hoped to become an astrophysicist.

The third-year Physics student had recently been elected to be captain of the university's Canoe Club in the year to come.

Oliver, who lived in Cheadle, Cheshire, and then Birnam in Perthshire, had planned to work abroad in his field and hoped to do a PhD.

He was described as 'well-known and well-liked by students and staff', and 'passionate about science and sharing his knowledge of stardust with all who knew and loved him', in a statement by the uni.

The straight-A student enjoyed Scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme as a teenager, and was remembered as a 'kind compassionate and considerate young man'.

Dr Hamid Ohadi said: "Oliver was an exemplary student.

"He was a rare combination of intelligence and hard work, but also incredibly polite and mindful of his impact and words on others around him."

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE wrote: "Enthusiastic about the Canoe Club, Oliver had been elected to become their Captain for the year to come.

"It was on a canoeing holiday in the French Alps that he died in his sleep, surrounded by friends, after spending the day on the river doing what he loved.

"Oliver is survived by his mother Gail, father Mike and sister Elise.

"Oliver had shown a keen interest in taking his studies further and wider and had planned to continue his studies to PhD level and to make use of opportunities to study and work abroad.

"A young man with huge potential, Oliver embraced life and enjoyed being fully present for his friends and family.

"He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Gail, Mike, Elise, Oliver's wider family and friends, and those who knew and studied with him."

A Service of Celebration will be held on Friday, June 17 at 4pm in the Birnam Arts Centre, Birnam, Dunkeld.

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