Tasered man critically ill after river rescue

A MAN is critical in hospital after being tasered by police and then rescued from the River Thames.

Police were responding yesterday morning to reports of a man armed with a screwdriver and shouting. He was challenged on Chelsea Bridge before being tasered. However, the force said this “did not enable the officers to safely detain him” and the man, thought to be in his 40s, “subsequently entered the river”.

A rescue operation was launched and the man was pulled to safety by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

He has been taken to hospital where he is in a critical condition. Detectives are trying to contact the man’s family.

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards will investigate while the case has also been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Detective Chief Inspector Rory

Wilkinson of the Met’s Central West basic command unit, said: “My thoughts are with this man, who is extremely unwell in hospital. Officers are making every effort to make contact with his family.there are always concerns about incidents in which people come to harm having been in contact with police.

“All Met officers know that they are accountable for their actions, and a full investigation is under way to establish exactly what happened.”

POLICE have called for witnesses after the ex-boyfriend of singer Emeli Sande was stabbed to death at a Jubilee party.

Lamar Jackson, 39, of Hackney, died while at an event inwoodford Green on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Mr Jackson, known as Hypo, was a rapper and grime artist.

Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith said: “I would urge anyone who is yet to speak with us to come forward and let us know what you saw.”