A man is in hospital in critical condition after police in London fired him with a Taser and had to be rescued from the River Thames.
Police, who are being investigated after the incident, said they were called shortly after 9am on Saturday to report a man with a screwdriver shouting at Chelsea Bridge Road.
When officers arrived shortly afterwards, metropolitan police said they challenged a man to Chelsea Bridge and unloaded a Taser, but were unable to stop him safely.
The man, who is believed to be about 40 years old, “later entered the river,” police said, and was rescued by the RLLI who took him to the hospital where his condition was assessed. he was critical. Police said they are still trying to contact the man’s family.
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The Met’s Professional Standards Directorate is investigating the incident and has referred it to the Independent Police Conduct Office (IOPC).
DCI Rory Wilkinson of Met’s Central West BCU said the man is “extremely ill in hospital” and a full investigation is underway.
“My thoughts are with this man, who is very ill in the hospital. The officers are doing their best to contact his family,” he said.
“I understand that there are always concerns about incidents in which people suffer from having been in contact with the police. All Met agents know they are responsible for their actions and a full investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened. “
An IOPC spokesman said: “The Met Police Service has reported an incident at Chelsea Bridge this morning. An independent investigation is underway. Investigators have been transferred to their post-proceedings. incident and at the scene “.