Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor, has been found dead.

Mr Arday was found “unresponsive” at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at 3.12 pm on Friday.

He said: “Sadly, a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

“At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. The case is being investigated by officers from the Met’s Central South Command Unit. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

The London Ambulance Service said it had been called to the scene at 3.06 pm.

A spokesman said the service had dispatched an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic in a fast response car and members of its Hazardous Area Response Team.

“Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene,” the spokesman said.

Police erected a cordon around the address where Mr Arday’s body was found.

A black private ambulance was seen arriving at around 8 pm. It was seen leaving the address just before 8.30 pm.

Mr Arday is survived by his wife and two children. His family paid tribute to him as a “gentle man” and an “amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son”.

“Jason 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,” they said in a statement.

“The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentleman and who always wanted to see the best in everyone. We are in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son.”

Born in 1985, Mr Arday went to a state primary school in Battersea before attending secondary school in nearby Southfields.

He then did a BTEC at Merton College in Morden, south London before going on to university.

Mr Arday studied education at undergraduate and postgraduate level, completing his PhD at Liverpool John Moores University, and went on to hold academic posts at the University of Roehampton, Durham University and the University of Glasgow, where he became professor of sociology of education in 2021.

His memoir, titled Great and Unfortunate Things, was published in the United States earlier this week and is due to be published by Simon and Schuster in the UK on Aug 27.

Mr Arday resigned as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge on Aug 5, following accusations of plagiarism. He was the university’s youngest ever black professor.

Last week, Cambridge launched an investigation into Mr Arday’s appointment and tenure at the university. It will feed into a review of the university’s hiring process for all senior academic positions. Mr Arday resigned just a few hours after the university announced the investigation, citing the “unrelenting level of public scrutiny”.

Prof Deborah Prentice, Cambridge’s vice-chancellor, said: “We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

A spokesman for Durham University said: “We are shocked and terribly sad to learn of the death of Jason Arday. Jason was a member of Durham University’s sociology department between 2019 and 2022.

“He is remembered at Durham as a kind and warm person, who actively sought to promote opportunities for PhD students. We want to express our deepest sympathy to his family who are in our thoughts today.”

Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, said: “I’m deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Jason Arday.

“My heartfelt condolences are with his friends and family at this very sad time. I urge people to give them privacy through this incredibly difficult period and to remember there are real people with loved ones involved.”

The Telegraph