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The ‘campaign of misinformation was too much for him,’ Jason Arday\u2019s family has said, as ITV News’ Geraint Vincent reports <\/p>\n
Former University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday, who resigned following a plagiarism row, has been found dead in London. <\/p>\n
Emergency services were called to Daley Thompson Way, in Battersea, where the academic lived, just after 3pm on Friday to reports a man had been found unresponsive inside a property.<\/p>\n
The 41-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, the Met Police said.<\/p>\n
His death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious, the force added.<\/p>\n
The family of Mr Arday, who became Cambridge\u2019s youngest black professor in 2023, said they are \u201cin shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son\u201d. <\/p>\n
In a statement issued by his publisher, Simon & Schuster UK, they said: \u201cJason was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for more than three years since he accepted the role of professor at Cambridge University by those who would leave no stone unturned in their quest to undermine him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t comment further at this point beyond asking the press to leave us alone now, and to stop the campaign of harassment which has been waged against Jason and his family for too long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Arday resigned from his role as a professor at Cambridge on August 4 following a plagiarism row.<\/p>\n
Subscribe for free to our weekly newsletter<\/a> for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. <\/p>\n The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, said: \u201cWe are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday\u2019s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she was “deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Jason Arday” as she urged people to \u201cremember there are real people with loved ones involved\u201d.<\/p>\n She wrote on X: “I\u2019m deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Jason Arday.<\/p>\n “My heartfelt condolences are with his friends and family at this very sad time.<\/p>\n “I urge people to give them privacy through this incredibly difficult period & to remember there are real people with loved ones involved.”<\/p>\n The London Ambulance Service said it sent a number of resources to the scene on Friday, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic in a fast response car and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team.<\/p>\n \u201cSadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene,” it said. <\/p>\n Jason Arday carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg between Sutton and Merton in London in 2012 Credit: Joe Giddens\/PA<\/p>\n Jo Maugham, executive director of Good Law Project, whose website Mr Arday posted a letter on saying he was resigning from the University of Cambridge, said Prof Arday\u2019s death is \u201ca tragedy for him and those who loved him\u201d.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThose around him had been warning the media that this was a risk \u2013 it was one reason why I refused to join those condemning him \u2013 and I do not understand what the public interest was in continuing to hound him after he resigned as a professor and I do not understand what risk assessments media outlets did.\u201d <\/p>\n Mr Arday, a professor of sociology of education, quit following a series of media reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis \u2013 completed at Liverpool John Moores University \u2013 and other research.<\/p>\n Further questions were asked in the press about the truth of other claims he made, including saying he ran 600 miles in six days and that he had raised \u00a35.5 million for charity.<\/p>\n An investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared Mr Arday of wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Durham and Glasgow universities are investigating the circumstances around his appointment to academic posts there, and Cambridge\u2019s Jesus College has accepted his resignation from his fellowship, according to Prof Prentice.<\/p>\n Mr Arday said in his open resignation letter that he felt the “only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away”.<\/p>\n In the letter, addressed to colleagues and published on the Good Law Project\u2019s website, he said: “This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge.<\/p>\n “Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.<\/p>\n “It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.”<\/p>\n Over the weekend, he cancelled events promoting his forthcoming memoir.<\/p>\n Publisher Simon & Schuster previously said that the book, Great And Unfortunate Things, would be published in the UK on August 27.<\/p>\n This week, the University of Cambridge said it would run an independent review of \u201call relevant processes\u201d alongside an investigation into how Mr Arday was appointed by its Faculty of Education.<\/p>\n For help or support:<\/p>\n Samaritans<\/a>\u00a0is an organisation offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.<\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n Mind<\/a>\u00a0is a mental health charity which promotes the views and needs of people with mental health issues.<\/p>\n It provides\u00a0advice and support<\/a>\u00a0to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem, and\u00a0campaigns<\/a>\u00a0to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.<\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice you can contact PAPYRUS\u00a0HOPELINEUK<\/a>\u00a0on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email\u00a0pat@papyrus-uk.org<\/a><\/p>\n Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK.\u00a0PAPYRUS<\/a>\u00a0aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.<\/p>\n HOPELINEUK is the charity\u2019s confidential helpline service providing practical advice and support to young people with thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned about a young person who may have thoughts of suicide.<\/p>\n HOPELINEUK is staffed by trained professionals, offering a telephone, text and email service.<\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n YoungMinds<\/a>\u00a0is a resource with information on child and adolescent mental health, but also offers services for parents and professionals.<\/p>\n It is the UK\u2019s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health, and wants to make sure all young people can get the mental health support they need, when they need it<\/p>\n YoungMinds Textline – Text YM to 85258<\/p>\n Phone Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 4pm)<\/p>\n Back to top<\/a>The Martin Gallier Project <\/p>\n