Homesick Saudi Arabian man was found dead in River Itchen in Southampton

Harith Alsharif had come to the UK as a chaperone for his sister, Malak Alsharif, while she studied for a PhD in the Hampshire city.

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The inquest heard that his body was found in the water of the River Itchen next to Northam Bridge on August 5, 2021. He had no clothing on apart from a black thong.

His sister said in a statement read to the Winchester hearing that in the weeks before his death, Mr Alsharif had become more ‘emotional’ and wanted to return to Saudi Arabia,

She said that her brother, who had previously gone missing for 10 days before being found in a park, had not slept for two days before his death and would go for long walks.

Ms Alsharif also said he once asked her if she had heard a voice he had apparently heard.

She said: ‘He started to behave differently to how he used to be, this was the feeling of anxiety, he wasn’t feeling emotionally well here and wanted to go home as soon as possible.

‘He felt anxious and didn’t want to stay in one place which is why he went walking.’

Ms Alsharif said her brother had returned the previous day from a walk and had been ‘delighted and excited’ to have found a river with restaurants along the waterfront, and she last saw him when he went for another walk the night before his body was discovered.

She added that she did not believe her ‘soulmate’ had killed himself because he was a Muslim, and Islamic law forbids suicide.

She added: ‘I am shocked at what has happened.’

Detective Sergeant Caroline Price, of Hampshire police, told the hearing that Mr Alsharif’s clothing was found on the river bank.

She said there was no sign of a struggle and believed he had entered the water voluntarily.

She added: ‘The male had removed his clothing and entered the water for unknown reasons and there were no signs of alcohol or drugs.’

A post-mortem found that Mr Alsharif died as a result of immersion in water possibly caused by cold water shock or hypothermia. The examination also found no alcohol or drugs in his system.

Recording an open conclusion, Hampshire coroner Christopher Wilkinson said: ‘Suicide can never be assumed. The only evidence I have is Mr Alsharif entered the water voluntarily but there is no evidence he intended to take his own life.

‘Given the peculiarities of his absence from the property on a number of occasions, I do wonder if he intended to enter the water while labouring under some form of mental illness at the time.’

He said that he believed Mr Alsharif suffered cold water shock or hypothermia leading to him getting into difficulties in the water.