Man who drowned ‘deserves bravery award’

A 20-year-old man who died after jumping into the River Thames to save a woman was “adamant” he had to try to rescue her, his friend has said.

Folajimi Olubunmiadewole, who was known as Jimi, was on his way home from work at a central London restaurant when he entered the water at around midnight on Saturday.

His emotional parents described him as someone with “a good heart” as they spoke of their loss.

Tearful Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid said people are “fully behind” a campaign for Mr Olubunmi-adewole to be awarded a posthumous George Cross for bravery.

His friend, Bernard Kosia, who was with him on the night, described him as a “hero” for what he did.

He told the ITV programme: “Jimi was adamant, for some reason, that he didn’t care (about himself ).

“He didn’t think twice as to what was going to happen. I just remember him saying ‘Bernard, I have to save her, I’m going to save her’.”

Describing being alerted to the incident at London Bridge, he said they were approached by two men who showed them a video of a woman “jumping over the bridge”.

He said they called 999 and heard a woman shouting “I’m dying, I’m dying” but could not see anything because it was “pitch black”.

Mr Olubunmiadewole’s father, Michael Adewola, and mother, Olasunkanmi Adewole, wept as they paid tribute to their son. Mr Adewola said: “I want the government to honour him.”

A marine unit rescued the woman and one of the men, but could not locate the other. Mr Olubunmi-adewole’s body was found at 6am on Saturday.