A "STAR student" died after plunging off Bournemouth Pier into the sea. Bournemouth University student Callum John Paton, 21, whose family live in Wattsville, was seen balancing on the furthest edge of the pier at around 1.45am on Wednesday.

He then took off his jacket and stepped off the decking.

His body was found washed up 400 metres from the pier shortly after a massive search by police and coastguards.

Yesterday his mother, Megan, from Islwyn Road, Wattsville, was being comforted by her family. His cousin, Lynn Kembery, also from Islwyn Road, said the family was "devastated" by the news.

Mr Kembery said: "He was a very popular and bright lad." Callum is believed to have been speaking to a female friend on his mobile phone before entering the sea.

Dorset Police are not treating the incident as suspicious and are not looking for anyone in connection with his death.

Callum was in the second year of a three-year BA (Hons) multi-media journalism course at the university.

His course leader, Dan Hogan, said: "Callum was a fantastic bloke and was really loved by the other students.

"He was a handsome guy who always had loads of girls in tow enjoying his company. A star student, he was very charismatic and modest with a lot of very close friends." One of his best friends at Bournemouth, Kerry Ross, a fellow journalism student, said: "He touched everybody in a different way.

"He was a friend, comic and most of all one of the most caring friends I've ever had." Callum was voted personality of the year by his fellow students at his course's annual ball last year.

Police were first alerted to the New Year's day tragedy when a woman phoned them to say her friend had gone into the sea.

His wax jacket was found on the end of the pier and police immediately alerted the coastguard.

His body was found 35 minutes later on a beach nearby. An inquest is due to be opened by the Bournemouth coroner next week.

PICTURED: Callum Paton with best friend Kerry Ross. Callum is believed to have been talking to another female friend before leaping to his death.