TRIBUTES have been paid to a prize-winning musician who died after he fell in to a Colchester river.

Ivan Reshetilov, whose family live in Rowhedge, had been in Colchester enjoying a night out with friends on Thursday .

The 23-year-old’s body was discovered in the River Colne.

The prize-winning musician was about to start his fourth year studying for a music degree at the prestigious Trinity College of Music in London.

A former student at Colchester Royal Grammer School, he later studied music technology at Colchester Sixth Form College, in North Hill.

His former teacher, Nigel Hildreth, described him as a “very promising” musician, with lots of potential.

He said: “I got to know him well during the two years I taught him at sixth form college. He was a very likeable lad and he produced some extremely professional compositions.

“I think he was one of the most promising compositional students we have ever had here.

“It is a terrible tragedy; he was a very talented, potentially outstanding student and I am immensely saddened by it.”

His girlfriend, Lucy Smith, 21, set up a memorial page on social networking site, Facebook.

Hundreds of friends have already joined and paid their tribute to the Moscow-born pianist they describe as a likeable, happy, talented young man.

His flatmate, Carlos Alberto, wrote: “The sound of his laugh seems to hang around in our house still and we will remember Ivan that way.”

Joe McElroy wrote: “He just always made you feel better for seeing him.”

Rosie Elrington wrote: “Ivan always loved everything and never had a bad word to say about anything.”

Police were alerted in the early hours of Friday after someone said they could hear splashing in the river, near the Mill Apartments, off East Hill.

Mr Reshetilov’s body was later found by officers searching the river about 7am.

Police have described the incident as a “tragic accident” and the case has now been referred to the Essex coroner.