An inquest has opened into the death of Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, the 20-year-old man from Bermondsey’s Neckinger Estate who jumped into the Thames to save a drowning woman in April – only to lose his own life.
Folajimi, known as Jimi, was walking home over London Bridge from his job as a waiter in the early hours of April 24 this year when he heard a woman scream from the Thames that she couldn’t swim. He and another young man, Joaquin Garcia, decided to jump in to try to save her.
Speaking at the inquest on Tuesday (November 23) at Inner South London Coroners Court, assistant coroner Julian Morris said: “The boys ran down the steps to the river bank. They were talking to each other and were partially undressed.
“They [the witnesses] could hear people saying not to jump in. They saw one man jump in and swim out and appeared to be a good swimmer. The second jumped down five to ten seconds after and then began asking for assistance himself.”
The coroner said that the woman and Joaquin were rescued from the river, but Jimi’s body was found by the river police six hours later.
Tributes poured in to the former Harris Academy Peckham student Jimi earlier this year after his heroic efforts, with calls made for him to be given the George Cross – the highest civilian honour in the UK.
Jimi’s mother Olusankami Adewole called her son “a special, loving young man.” She told the News after his death: “He was a very good person and had a very good heart.