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18-Year-Old Southampton Student Fatally Stabbed After End-of-Term Night Out, Family Mourns

10:23 AM, 12/08/2025
18-Year-Old Southampton Student Fatally Stabbed After End-of-Term Night Out, Family Mourns

Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old first-year Accountancy and Finance student at Southampton University, was fatally stabbed in Portswood on Dec. 3 while celebrating the end of term. He sustained a puncture wound to the chest and two wounds to the back of his leg and was pronounced dead at the scene. Four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder and police say the investigation is at an early stage. Nowak’s family paid tribute to him, calling him “kind, intelligent and talented” and saying they are heartbroken.

An 18-year-old first-year university student, Henry Nowak, has died after being stabbed during a night out in Portswood, Southampton, while celebrating the end of term, police and his family said.

Officers from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary were called to an altercation at about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 3. Nowak suffered a puncture wound to the chest and two further wounds to the back of his leg. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Student Life and Family Tribute

Nowak, originally from Essex, was living in Southampton while studying Accountancy and Finance at Southampton University. In their tribute, shared with police on Dec. 7, his family described him as “kind, intelligent and talented.” They said he had excelled at A-levels, was fully embracing university life, had joined two football teams and worked part-time at a local Morrisons.

“Our kind, intelligent, and talented son was in his first year at Southampton University studying Accountancy and Finance… Our hearts ache when we think of the bright future he had ahead of him,” the family wrote. “We are so proud of him and all he achieved. Our world will never be the same without our amazing Henry.”

Investigation and Arrests

Hampshire Police said the investigation is ongoing and asked anyone with information to come forward. In an earlier statement, investigating officer DCI Rebekah Bartholomew said the inquiry was at an early stage and her team was working to "piece together the exact circumstances and understand the moments that led up to the call to us." She added she believed the incident to be isolated.

Four Southampton residents — a 22-year-old man, a 26-year-old man, a 51-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman — have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Police have not released further details about the suspects while inquiries continue.

The force urged anyone who witnessed the incident or who has relevant CCTV or mobile phone footage to contact them to assist the investigation.

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