Student falls to his death in Russia

A student from the North plunged to his death in Russia, it emerged tonight.

Matthew Howell, 22, fell four floors from an apartment block in St Petersburg.

The St Andrews University student had been staying in the city as part of his course when the tragedy happened on Monday.

As his father flew out to bring the body home, the Howell family issued a statement from their home in Castlerock, Co Derry.

It praised the full life Mr Howell had led and his influence on others.

“He was the oldest brother of 10 children and a son who honoured his parents and brought us great pride,” the statement said.

“His home church, the Barn Fellowship in Ballymoney, will miss his energy and loving smile, as well as his frequent reports of his international travels.”

Mr Howell was in the third year of his Russian and International Relations course at the Scottish university.

With the Russian authorities understood to be investigating the accident, staff from St Andrews have also arranged to travel to St Petersburg to aid the Howell family.