News

Sudden death of talented student and sportsman

(8 May 2006)

Students and staff at Durham University are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden death of a 21-year-old Stephenson College final-year student at the weekend.

Alastair Beattie, a Business student and captain of the University Basketball Club, died in his sleep at home in Stockton. He was discovered by his parents yesterday. He was a most popular and active member of the College at the University's Queen's Campus. The College Principal Professor Adrian Darnell said: "Alastair was a superb student both academically and on the sports field. Everyone is completely devastated by this shocking news. He never missed a class, was an excellent sportsman and leader, and was the first student from Queen's Campus to captain a full University sport. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and all his many friends." Alastair was a former pupil of Grangefield School in Stockton and at Stockton Sixth Form College. He was about take his final year exams, hoping to follow his elder brother who graduated with the same degree and from Snow College three years ago. A post mortem is being arranged but it is understood that there are no suspicious circumstances.