Man in Critical Condition After Police Taser Incident and Thames Rescue at Chelsea Bridge
Police Called to Disturbance With Armed Man
Police were scrambled at around 9pm on Saturday, 4 June, after reports of a man causing a scene on Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1. Eyewitnesses said the man was armed with a screwdriver and shouting aggressively.
Taser Fired But Man Jumps into Thames
Officers arrived swiftly and confronted the man on Chelsea Bridge. They deployed a Taser, but it failed to subdue him. Moments later, the man—believed to be in his 40s—leapt into the River Thames.
RNLI Rescue Operation and Hospitalisation
An urgent rescue was launched. The RNLI pulled the man from the water and rushed him to hospital. He remains in a critical condition.
Investigation Underway by Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards
Police are reaching out to the man’s family, offering specialist support. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is probing the incident thoroughly. A referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been made.
Detective Chief Inspector Rory Wilkinson said: “My thoughts are with this man, who is extremely unwell in hospital. Officers are making every effort to contact his family.
“I understand concerns always arise when someone is harmed after contact with police. All Met officers know they are accountable. A full investigation is underway to find exactly what happened.”
