IT IS the sheer ordinariness of York student Megan Roberts’s last night that is so heartbreaking.

She was undoubtedly very drunk. But the 20-year-old was also enjoying a good night out. “She seemed really happy,” a friend said.

Yet at some point on that night of January 22, while walking home, she fell into the River Ouse. Her drowned body was found 11 days later.

Recording an open verdict at her inquest yesterday, coroner Jonathan Leach said alcohol appeared to have played a part in Megan’s death.

“She probably fell in due to her senses being impaired,” he said.

Mr Leach held Megan’s inquest on the same afternoon as that of Ben Clarkson, who also drowned – - in the River Foss – - – after drinking heavily.

The coroner said: “I am holding both (inquests) on the same day to raise awareness of the dangers of the River Ouse and River Foss, particularly to those who have drunk large amounts of alcohol.”

We have warned about those dangers repeatedly. More recently, Megan’s mother Jackie and Ben’s girlfriend Rachel Peatfield joined Steve Pearson, whose son Tyler also drowned, to produce emotional, hard-hitting videos.

The details of Megan’s last night, however, reinforce how utterly unnecessary her death was.

That’s the message we hope young people take from this tragedy. Drink and York’s rivers don’t mix. I And if it could happen to Megan, it can happen to you.