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Death in Battersea
Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row, was found dead at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon.
“found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea, south London”
Emergency services said a man was found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon, and Metropolitan Police officers were called by the London Ambulance Service.
The Metropolitan Police said: "At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious," and Arday was pronounced dead at the scene.
BBC reported that Arday resigned as a Cambridge professor of sociology of education last week after allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of his achievements, which he denied while admitting errors in his work.
Cambridge vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said, "We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news" and extended sympathies to Arday’s family and friends.
Plagiarism row and fallout
The BBC said the row first erupted after Nathan Cofnas, a self-defined "race realist" who was sacked from his Cambridge role in 2024, said he found numerous instances of plagiarism in Arday’s work.
BBC also reported that there were questions around Arday’s claims that he ran 30 marathons in 35 days, and 300 miles in three days for charity, which Arday said had raised more than £5m for charity, as well as running 600 miles on a treadmill in six days.
In his resignation, Arday told colleagues that the "personal cost" of the scrutiny had become "too great," and he said: "The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love."
Sky News said Arday resigned as a professor of sociology of education last week after reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis while at Liverpool John Moores University.
Sky News added that the Daily Telegraph reported Arday’s thesis contained "more than 100 passages that are identical or nearly identical to a 2009 PhD thesis" by a Brunel University student.
Investigation and next steps
Cambridge initially said claims of plagiarism regarding Arday's thesis and some journal publications had been investigated by Liverpool John Moores University and the journals in question, and BBC reported that LJMU concluded he had not plagiarised work.
“That investigation, as you say, should be thorough and transparent”
Earlier this week, Cambridge announced an independent investigation into his appointment, and BBC quoted Professor Prentice saying: "That investigation, as you say, should be thorough and transparent."
BBC reported that Glasgow university also announced a review into Arday's previous academic work, and it said last weekend he cancelled an event promoting his forthcoming memoir.
Publisher Simon & Schuster previously said that the book, Great And Unfortunate Things, would be published in the UK on 27 August, and Sky News said the memoir was due to be published on 27 August.
In the meantime, the Metropolitan Police said officers were investigating the case and that "A report will be prepared for the coroner," after Arday was found unresponsive in Battersea.
