Charley Gadd died after 'messing around' with his parents in Manchester city centre prank that turned into utter tragedy

A university student who was found dead after a month-long search by police had run away from his parents in a prank that turned tragic, an inquest heard.

Film student Charley Gadd was found in the River Irwell by Media City on January 10 this year. He had been on a night out with parents Jolyon and Kimberley Gadd at The Warehouse Project in Manchester city centre on December 11 last year but later 'ran off' from them while just messing around

His dad, Jolyon, said that 20-year-old Charley had already run away from them once that night as a joke.

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He said: "I went chasing after him, running a couple of blocks. He fell over and I picked him up. He found it really funny that I was so unfit and we walked off arm in arm. Then we went to get something for him to eat, but he ran off again."

His parents said he had 'ran off' after being last seen near the Spar Store in St Mary's Gate at around 1.10am on Saturday December 11. His family spent hours desperately trying to find him before reporting him missing to police.

His last known movements were caught on CCTV, putting him outside the Royal Exchange Theatre, heading towards St Annes Street, just before 1.15am.

Giving evidence at Stockport Coroners Court, Police Coroners Officer David Wood, of Greater Manchester Police, said CCTV footage showed Charley heading towards St Mary's parsonage. He was then seen in a small car park to the rear of Alberton House which overlooks the River Irwell.

He said at 1.18am Charley was seen to go across the car park, which had a steep drop into the River Irwell, but was not seen to leave. He said: "It would have been impossible to