A "very bright" Oxford University student has died while studying on a year abroad.

Antonio Gato was studying French and Spanish at St Catherine's College and had travelled to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe to study.

The 21-year-old from Hull only arrived on the island at the start of October and is understood to have gone to a known beauty spot in the sea to go swimming before going missing.

Police, fire crews and the coastguard were all involved in a major search operation and his body was found in the water 25 metres from the beach on Friday, October 18.

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Antonio Gato was studying at the University of Oxford.Antonio Gato was studying at the University of Oxford. (Image: The Oxford African and Caribbean Society)

Mr Gato, who was set to spend the full academic year abroad has been described by the University of Oxford as an “an extremely warm and friendly individual” as tributes were paid.

In a statement on Halloween, a spokesperson for the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages said: "The Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages is deeply saddened to share the news of the death of Antonio Gato, third year student of French and Spanish at St Catherine's College, on Friday 18th October.

“Antonio was on his year abroad in Guadaloupe.

"Antonio was known to and very well-liked by all members of the Faculty who knew him - and there were many.

“His tutors, teachers and fellow students spoke highly of him as a very bright and intellectually engaged member of the Faculty, who took his learning of French and Spanish very seriously, and as an extremely warm and friendly individual.

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The University of Oxford.The University of Oxford. (Image: Unsplash)

“Members of staff within the Faculty offices also knew and admired Antonio, speaking to him frequently before and after classes.

“All are greatly saddened by his loss."

Faculty board chair, Prof Jonathan Thacker added: "Although I did not have the pleasure of teaching Antonio personally in his two years in the Faculty learning French and Spanish, I have spoken to many staff and students in the past few days who knew and loved him and are devastated at his death.

“Antonio will be remembered in the two sub-faculties to which he belonged, French and Spanish, as a fine student and a wonderful person who was taken from us too soon."

In a separate statement, St Catherine's College said: “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

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“The news of the death of someone at the heart of our community is difficult to come to terms with and will affect many of us for a long time to come.

“In college we will be thinking about how we can provide space and events through which we can remember Antonio.

“We also want to recognize our own and others’ grief and support all those grieving. In time we will announce a memorial event and tribute for Antonio.”

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