A 20-year-old Nigerian man, Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole has died after jumping in the River Thames to rescue a woman who fell from London Bridge.
According to The Sun UK, Olubunmi-Adewole saw the woman fall into the river, jumped in just after midnight along with a second man who tried to save her.
It was gathered that emergency services, including the coastguard and police marine units, rushed to the scene in an attempt to save all three people in the river.
They rescued the fallen woman – along with one of the men who jumped to her aid. But they could not find Olubunmi-Adewole in the cold, choppy water. His body was pulled from the Thames at 6am yesterday.
The Nigerian-born Brit was a former student at the Harris Academy in Peckham, South London.
Friends paid tribute to the “hero”, known to pals as Jimi. Another tribute described him as “humanity par excellence.”
One witness told the Sun Online: “There was at least one police boat on the water, and about six police cars and an ambulance. The tide was very high and choppy.”
A resident living close to where the ordeal took place added: “I woke up and thought it was kids messing about.
“Someone was shouting ‘help’, ‘help’, the shouting was constant.
“I looked outside and saw someone shouting in the river, there were helicopters, boats and loads of police.”
A City of London Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 00.12 on Saturday 24 April to reports of a woman in the River Thames close to London Bridge.
“Two men, who had witnessed the woman fall from the bridge, entered the river to try and save her.
“The Coastguard and Metropolitan Police Marine Units were able to rescue the woman and one of the men.
“Sadly, following an extensive search involving police helicopters, marine units, LFB, LAS and City Police officers, the missing man was not located.
“At 06.00 the same morning, a body was found believed to be that of the missing man.
“His next of kin have been made aware and are being supported by officers from the City of London Police.”
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