A thirteen-year-old boy who died after ‘jumping’ into the Thames in April was seen by eyewitnesses climbing over a barrier on Tower Bridge, an inquest has heard.
Members of the public saw Zaheid Ali, a student at Ark Globe Academy near Elephant and Castle, after he got off the bus early on the way to school on April 20.
Eyewitnesses tried to get Year 8 student Zaheid out of the water but were unable to save him. He was only retrieved from the river eight days later.
Tower Bridge: Year 8 schoolboy ‘missing’ after falling into Thames
Coroner Julian Morris told Southwark Coroner’s Court on Tuesday (November 23): “Mr Ali was reported missing after not attending school on April 20. He was travelling to school by bus with a friend and got off one stop early and made his way to Tower Bridge.
“He entered the bridge from the south side before being seen to climb over a barrier and jumping. Members of the public threw life support rings and jumped into the river, but were unable to retrieve him.
“City of London Police and a marine unit then attended reports of a body recovered on the surface south side of the river.
“Officers attended and retrieved an Oyster card with Zaheid’s name in it. He was also wearing the school uniform of when he jumped in.”
A full coroner’s hearing is expected at a later date.
