Second year Business Management student Luke O’Connor died in hospital after an attack in Fallowfield.

Family and friends have paid tribute to a “gentle giant” Manchester Metropolitan University student who was fatally stabbed in Fallowfield, Manchester.

Greater Manchester police confirmed Luke O’Connor, 19, was stabbed on Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield at about 2am on Wednesday. He was given CPR at the scene but later died of his injuries in hospital.

In a statement released by Greater Manchester Police, his family said: “Our hearts yearn for the loss of Luke; we are truly devastated by this tragedy. Luke was loved by so many people, and he knew how much he was loved in return.

“He was a second year Business Management student at university. He loved the freedom of student living and studying and was loving life in Manchester.

“Luke was the youngest of three boys in our family and was a gentle giant with big hopes and dreams for the future.

“His biggest dream was to travel the world, but now Luke will never be able to fulfil that dream.

“Luke loved music, football and was a big supporter of Liverpool Football Club, who he followed religiously from a young age.

“He had a profound impact on so many people throughout his life. He was truly one of a kind, who’s presence would light up any room.

“Luke’s friends also adored him, as he adored them. They often called Luke a ‘Legend’ and ‘the life and soul’ of everything he did. Everyone who met him, truly loved him.

“Our lively, bubbly, beautiful boy has been taken from us and our family are now left with a hole in our hearts that will never be filled.

“Justice needs to be served as we have lost our beautiful young Luke, who was robbed of life.

“We will continue to honour his name for as long as we are all here, and his legacy with go on forever.”

Luke’s family have asked for privacy while they grieve for their loss.

Manchester Met have offered counselling and support to students and staff affected by the tragedy.

A Manchester Met spokesperson said: “We will be contacting them to offer our help and support,” it said in a statement. “This will be a terrible shock to our whole community, and we will be arranging for professionally trained counselling staff to support any students and staff who are affected by the incident.”

A Manchester Met student living in Fallowfield said: “The safety issues in Fallowfield are ongoing so I’m not really surprised something like this has happened, but it’s still very shocking.

“We don’t want anyone to walk home alone now, even my male friends. It’s made everyone very wary.

“I used to live on that road. Fallowfield doesn’t feel safe.”

Detective Superintendent Neil Jones of Greater Manchester Police South Manchester Division said: “This was a terrible crime which has robbed a young man of his life and my thoughts are with his family at this devastating time.

“I understand it will cause distress and concern to many in Fallowfield and across Manchester more widely, including our large student community.

“The investigation is in its early stages, but I can assure you that our officers are working round the clock and carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.

“We are actively pursuing leads and will relentlessly pursue the offender to ensure they are brought to justice.”

“There will be more officers out on the streets in Fallowfield and the surrounding area over the coming days conducting high visibility and plain clothes patrols to gather intelligence and reassure the community.

“Greater Manchester Police operates a Student Safe Operation with our partners on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights where our officers patrol the student areas at night, and these efforts will ramp up and be given extra resources.

“I hope this goes someway to reassure the community and if anyone has any information about this incident or has any concerns, I urge you to speak to these officers. They are there to help and support you.”

Anyone with any information should contact GMP by calling 101 quoting Log 240 of 26/10/22.

Manchester Met students can access the Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing Service by email at counselling@mmu.ac.uk or by calling 0161 247 3493.