A man who fell into the River Thames after police fired a Taser in a bid to detain him has died, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said.
Police were called to Chelsea Bridge Road, west London, on Saturday morning after receiving reports that a man was armed with a screwdriver and shouting, and he was rescued from the water and taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Police watchdog, the IOPC, said on Sunday the man, aged in his early 40s, had died in hospital, and that an independent inquiry was under way.
New Scotland Yard sign outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters
Kirsty O'Connor
IOPC director Steve Noonan said: “We have spoken to the man’s family to express our sincere condolences and explain our involvement.
"Our sympathies remain with them at this terrible time.
"Our independent investigation is under way into the police actions at the bridge and we have begun gathering and reviewing evidence.”
The IOPC added: “We are investigating contact Metropolitan Police officers had with a man on Chelsea Bridge yesterday morning (Saturday) prior to him entering the River Thames.
"He was subsequently rescued from the water and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. The man, in his early 40s, sadly died in hospital on Saturday evening.
“We were notified by the Metropolitan Police on Saturday and sent investigators to the scene and to the police post incident procedure to begin our investigation.
"Initial information indicates that officers were responding to reports of a disturbance when they encountered the man on the bridge. During the incident Taser was deployed.
“Investigators have secured police body-worn video footage and initial accounts have been obtained from the officers involved.
"The Taser used has also been gathered and will be analysed. Investigators have overseen forensic examination of the scene.”
