Family's anger over abandoned search for hero who drowned in River Thames

Parents of Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole believe attempts to find their son were called off too soon

Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole drowned on Saturday after diving into the River Thames in an attempt to rescue a woman who fell from London Bridge. 

A man drowned on Saturday after diving into the River Thames in an attempt to rescue a woman who fell from London Bridge.

His death was confirmed fewer than 24 hours after a boy fell from Tower Bridge as he made his way to school on Friday morning.

City of London police declared a "missing persons" incident but there is little hope that the 13-year-old Ark Globe Academy pupil will be found alive.

The body of Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, 20, was found, but his parents believe the search for their son was called off too soon.

Known as Jimi to his friends, he was returning from work at about midnight on Saturday when he saw a woman fall from London Bridge.

He and another man followed her into the water to attempt a rescue.

The other man managed to swim to the woman and they were subsequently rescued by the coastguard, but Olubunmi-Adewole was not so fortunate.

His body was discovered at 6am on Saturday and his parents are seeking answers as to why the search for their son was called off after only an hour.

"I feel bad, because my son was trying to rescue a woman. I feel so bad and I want people to help me. I want justice for my son," his mother, Olasunkanmi Adewole, told Sky News.

His father, Michael Adewole, lauded his son’s “good heart” and desire to help, sentiments echoed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Others took to social media to call him a “selfless hero”, “great Samaritan” and a “very brave young man”.

Responding to accusations that the search was aborted prematurely, the coastguard's strategic maritime commander Matt Leat said his force "responded fully to the suggestion of a third person in the water".

"Conditions were good for a search on the night, with a slow moving tide and a high volume of units from emergency services in attendance,” he said.

“It was determined where in the water the person could possibly be and each area was thoroughly searched multiple times.

"Despite our best efforts, the sad decision was made to suspend the search at 1.20am when no sign of the person was found."

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