A TEENAGER drowned in the Lea Navigation (Drowning teenager was not helped) after the police refused to enter the water to rescue him.
But an inspector believes the officers on the scene were right not to dive into the water to save the drowning teenager, Jack Susianta, as they were 'carrying out a dynamic risk assessment', Alan Tilbury tells us.
All they could do
Inspector James Reynolds told he was 'satisfied' officers did 'all they could do' and he would not have changed his actions.
The 17 years old was left to drown in the Lea Navigation when police both refused to enter the water and prevented onlookers from also doing so, believing it was too dangerous.
Not expected to jump in
The Inspector told the St Pancras Coroner's Court:
"The Metropolitan Police does not expect people to jump in the water but it does expect them to do a dynamic assessment'. This would take into account various factors such as the conditions of the water including potential obstacles and the officers' ability to swim, but they must communicate a rescue plan.".
The court was told that Jack had suffered a psychotic episode, smashed through a window at his family home and fled in just a T-shirt, boxer shorts and socks, and the teenager's mental state was in doubt in that he could believe the police were not the real police.