A 19-year-old student has died in a fall at a Cambridge University college.

Thomas Millward was found injured after police were called to the 147-year-old Girton college just after 9pm on Saturday.

The engineering student, originally from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, was taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital with serious head injuries but died at about 11am the following day.

Cambridgeshire police said the death was not being treated as suspicious but a 19-year-old woman from Cambridge had been arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs.

Millward’s parents, Brian and Maisa Millward, said he had studied engineering at the university since September last year.

Their son had dreamed of studying at Cambridge and then finding a career where he could make a positive difference to the world.

“One of the most promising young men of his generation. He was an extremely intelligent, talented, handsome and loving boy. He was loved so dearly by his family and friends,” they added.

“Thomas was an exceptional young man, warm and affectionate with everyone he met, always respectful and polite.

“Gifted both academically and in his sporting abilities, he excelled in everything that he did.

“At school he balanced his academic and social life with commensurate ease – putting exactly the right amount of effort into his studies to ensure that he achieved his success.

“He was strong and athletic and so much enjoyed his sports, particularly rugby, where he was in his element playing within his team, and his friends.”

The family said his organs had been donated so that he could help others.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire police said the woman arrested following his death had been released on bail until later this month.

Girton college was founded in 1869 and was Britain’s first residential college for women offering degree-level education. It was the first of the women’s colleges to go mixed more than 30 years ago.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A university spokesman, speaking on behalf of the college, said: “Tom Millward is remembered as a close friend, a good student and a keen sportsman.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time. His death is a great loss to the college community and the college will provide whatever support it can in the days ahead.”