Jack Susianta drowned after jumping into a river following a police chase. The 17-year-old fled his home in Clapton, London, after police officers turned up and, after being pursued by officers, went into the River Lea. But witnesses who saw Jack getting into difficulty in the water accused the police of refusing to help him.
“The police officers refused to jump in after him and said they can't do it,” Fiona Okonkwo, 42, told the London Evening Standard. “I was going to jump in after him but they stopped me.
“He was struggling, then he went under the water for the last time and didn't come back up. I saw the bubbles where he took his last breath. It was only after about 10 or 15 minutes, after (Jack) didn't resurface, that one of the officers jumped in.”
Following the accusations, the Metropolitan Police have issued a lengthy statement.
In a written response, Area Commander Lucy D'Orsi said: “Officers first tried to use a life aid and throw lines to him before an officer, who then needed assistance himself, entered dangerous water to try and safe Jack’s life. Met divers also entered the water in a rescue operation to try and save Jack.
“When police have been involved in an incident where someone has died we must refer ourselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission so they can look at the circumstances of what has happened. We have done this and this means that the detail and context around what exactly happened and the actions that were taken may take time to come out.
“My colleagues across London deal with high risk situations everyday, putting themselves at risk and running to things that most would run from. It's not easy for them or their families and therefore when judged I believe they deserve to be judged fairly.”
Jack – who was described as “high risk” – was studying chemistry, maths and media at Mossbourne Academy =in Hackney.
Earlier today his family – some who had flown 7000 from Jack’s father’s native home in Bali – held a vigil by the canal bridge.