Indian student attending Oxford Brookes University dies after impaling himself on spikes of railings

OXFORD June 16: An Indian university student attending Oxford Brookes University died after impaling himself on railings while taking a shortcut through a park in the middle of the night, an inquest heard.

Suhith Mahendra, 23, was said to have been on his way back from picking up food with a friend in the early hours of May 19.

The pair cut through an alleyway near a council-owned park before he reportedly tried to ‘climb or jump’ over some metal railings.

But Oxford Brookes marketing student Suhith from Bangalore in Karnataka in India, impaled himself on the spikes – suffering two wounds to his abdomen, an inquest was told.

Despite the efforts of his friend who carried out CPR he was pronounced dead at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford at 5.25am.

In a statement, a spokesman for Oxford Brookes University said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm that Suhith Mahendra died following an incident on Cuckoo Lane at the boundary with Clive Booth Student Village on May 19.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time. We are supporting his family and those affected by this incident. Students are encouraged to contact the University’s Wellbeing Service if they need emotional support, or they can access 24/7 support from TogetherAll.’

Suhith is understood to have been studying for a Masters degree in marketing at the time of his death.

A full inquest into Mr Mahendra’s death will be held on August 25.