Police are investigating whether a barrier caused serious head injuries to a 20-year-old student who died outside a busy bar.
Despite first aiders’ efforts to save her, she died in an incident outside Missoula in the popular Walkergate area of Durham at around 11.55pm on Wednesday.
It advertises its Game Over event as Durham’s biggest student night.
The North East Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 23.50 to reports of an incident outside Missoula in Durham City Centre in which someone had received a serious head injury.
“CPR was in progress we sent 3 resources including our HART team as well as an officer.
“Sadly the patient died at the scene.”
According to the Northern Echo, eyewitnesses have described how a woman was injured as people queued to get into Missoula.
The Tab student newspaper said there was a long queue of people wanting to get in to the venue.
Forensics officers in white suits were at the cordoned-off scene, and a blue police tent was positioned by barriers erected outside the venue.
White chairs had been knocked over and debris was strewn on the ground in the bar’s outside area.
Missoula is in a busy area of bars and restaurants above the Wear.
Owen Adams, pro-vice-chancellor Colleges and Student Experience, Durham University, said: “We are extremely shocked and saddened by the death of a Durham University student in Durham City last night.
“We are offering support to students and staff.
“Our thoughts are with the student’s family and friends at this very difficult time.
“We are unable to comment further on what is an ongoing Police investigation.”
Police were expected to release more details later.