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Tragic loss: Andrew Sargeant |
TRAGEDY OF STUDENT'S DEATH FALL
Talented young actor killed in fourth floor Barbican plunge
A TALENTED dancer with aspirations to star in West End shows has died after falling from the fourth floor of the Barbican YMCA building in Finsbury.
Andrew Sargeant, 19, was found dead at the bottom of the high rise building in Goswell Road, where he lived, at 3am on Friday.
He was a gifted scholarship student at the celebrated Italia Conti Theatre Arts School, a renowned centre for young British talent.
It is believed he was attempting to climb from his bedroom to the room of a close friend when he fell.
Tributes have been posted on Andrew’s Facebook page and a group has been set up in his memory on the social networking website.
One friend, Alex Hardwick, left a tribute on Andrew’s page asking: “oi you silly git wat u doin clibin out the window, always had to be center of a party lol. will miss you so much cant even belive you’ve gone.”
A member of staff at the YMCA, who did not wish to be named, said he believed Andrew fell as he tried to climb into the window of a close friend.
Mr Sargeant was in his third year at the Italia Conti School – which counts Noel Coward, Naomi Campbell, Sharon Osbourne and Patsy Kensit among its alumni – and, according to his principal, was on course to graduate with flying colours.
He had been away rehearsing for a Christmas pantomime in St Albans but returned to Islington on Thursday for the last day of term to watch his friends in their Christmas Concert at the Union Chapel in Angel.
Just hours later, Andrew was dead, and news of the terrible accident had spread to the school where his friends had gathered.
While children queued up in the school’s corridors for auditions on Tuesday, less than 100 metres away, Andrew’s parents were packing his belongings into their car. They have asked for Andrew’s theatre school friends to sing at his funeral.
Italia Conti principal, Anne Sheward, said: “It was a terrible shock, we’re all still reeling. He was probably one of the most popular students in the college.
“He came back on the Thursday for the last day of term to support his friends at the concert and was in fantastic spirits. He said he was really happy and life was good.
“A few hours later we had this devastating news. It seems inconceivable that he’s no longer with us.”
Ms Sheward said the school gave Andrew a scholarship after he auditioned more than three years ago because he was “particularly talented”, adding: “He was passionate about musical theatre, particularly dance. He’d already been spotted by a couple of people. He didn’t aspire to be like anybody, he wanted to be unique – the first Andy Sargeant.
“He was quite flamboyant. I could see him going anywhere he wanted.”
She added that Andrew’s family have asked for people not to send flowers but instead to make donations to the school so they can sponsor another talented student.
Andrew had already won dancing roles on stage and screen, dancing for Nickelodeon TV’s Genie in the House, ITV’s The Brits 25 and was in the company for the Shaw Theatre’s recent production of 42nd Street.
As well as his pursuits as an actor and singer, Andrew was also an accomplished dancer and teacher, specialising in jazz, tap, modern and ballet.
His grief-stricken friends have posted photos, videos and tributes on networking site Facebook.
One, from Barry Mitchell, said: “Andy, you fitted Conti like a glove (white sequins you get the picture), you’ll be missed ever so... you’re a star in every way possible, the show must go on.”
Another, from Rea Clark, said: “you have drowned us sweetheart with the wonderful memories... p.s mum says she still has the first signed autographed photo... for the star you are!”
Amanda Miles, a producer at the Disney Channel, wrote on the Facebook group dedicated to Andrew’s memory: “I have only just heard that Andrew is no longer with us and I am shocked and incredibly sad. He was a delight to work with and to have met.”
A spokeswoman for City of London Police said they were not treating the accident as suspicious, adding: “A post mortem was held on December 10 and found the cause of death to be multiple injuries. We are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area at that time to contact us at CID at Snow Hill police station on 020 7601 2426.”
A YMCA spokeswoman said police have interviewed YMCA residents who saw Andrew before the incident, adding: “It is not believed that any other persons were involved and the police are viewing this as an accident. We will keep Andrew and his family in our thoughts and prayers at this time.”
Andrew’s funeral will take place at noon on Friday, December 21, at the Minster, Wimborne Minster, Dorset. |
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