The family of a 20-year-old university student are grieving after police recovered a body from the water in Lincoln, ending a desperate two-day search.
Heartbreaking plea before tragedy
Connor Calleja was last seen in the early hours of Sunday, 11 January 2026, after reportedly being denied entry to the Home Nightclub, a popular student venue in the city. His stepfather, John Lewis, posted an emotional video plea on Facebook on Tuesday morning, just hours before the devastating news broke.
In the video, a tearful Mr Lewis directly addressed his missing stepson. "Connor come home to us please. Please come home," he said. "If you're embarrassed or if you think you've done something wrong, it doesn't matter what it is, just come home. You've done nothing wrong." The family had even transferred money into his account, embedding their phone numbers in the transaction reference, hoping he would make contact.
The night out and the search
Connor had been out celebrating a friend's birthday on Saturday night, 10 January. According to his stepfather, door staff at Home Nightclub refused him entry for "being intoxicated" and gave him a bottle of water before telling him to go home. He was last captured on CCTV at 1:50 am on University Bridge, seemingly making his way back to his student accommodation.
Lincolnshire Police launched a major search operation. Tragically, on Tuesday, 13 January, they recovered a body from a body of water near Brayford Pool. While formal identification is pending, police believe it to be Connor. A spokesperson stated: "There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances."
Community in mourning
The University of Lincoln, where Connor was a student, paid tribute, describing him as a "much-loved member of our community." The university and the students' union have offered support to grieving staff and students, urging anyone struggling to seek help.
The case has raised difficult questions after the nightclub promoted its hen party packages on Facebook on Tuesday while the search for Connor was still ongoing. The Mirror has approached Home Nightclub for comment.
Connor's family are now being supported by specially trained officers. Lincolnshire Police have requested that the public and media respect their privacy during this profoundly difficult time.
