Police tried to stop the man as he approached Notting Hill Carnival and he fled towards the canal
A man has died after falling in to a a canal following a police pursuit near Notting Hill Carnival on Monday. At around 3.19pm, police on duty tried to stop the man, believed to be in his 20s, in the area around Harrow Road as he walked towards the event. He fled on foot with officers in pursuit.
A short time later, he entered the canal off Kensal Road, close to Meanwhile Gardens. Officers and members of the public pulled him from the water and began performing CPR.
Paramedics appeared and continued treating the man by the side of the canal before taking him to a central London hospital by ambulance. Sadly, he was pronounced dead a short time later at 4.43pm. Urgent enquiries are ongoing to locate and inform his next of kin.
Commander Claire Smart, who oversaw the Notting Hill Carnival policing operation, said: “This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the loved ones of the man who has lost his life.
“Any death following contact with the police is passed to the Independent Office for Police Conduct so the circumstances can be fully investigated. I would encourage everyone to avoid speculation while this work takes place.
“I acknowledge the efforts of the officers and members of the public who entered the canal to rescue this man. I know they will be devastated that his life couldn’t ultimately be saved.”
It comes as Notting Hill Carnival passed largely without serious incident, according to the Metropolitan Police, with officers making 560 arrests across the two-day policing operation. The arrests included offences involving drugs, weapons, assaults and sexual offences, with 315 arrests recorded on Monday alone. Police said the figure could rise slightly as late arrests were processed.
There were two knife assaults during the Carnival, one stabbing and one slashing, but neither caused life-threatening injuries. Police also seized 62 weapons through stop and search operations across the two days, including a handgun on Monday.
Live facial recognition played a significant role in the policing operation, accounting for 48 arrests on Monday and 29 on Sunday. The technology also enabled officers to identify registered sex offenders attending the event and check whether they were complying with their licence conditions. Three were arrested on Monday for breaches, following three similar arrests on Sunday.
The Met said the level of serious violence was markedly lower than in previous years, attributing the improvement to proactive policing alongside increased stewarding, crowd management and cooperation with event organisers. More than 7,000 officers were deployed over the weekend, with police saying the operation was focused on targeting the minority who posed the greatest risk while allowing the vast majority of attendees to enjoy the Carnival safely.
The force added: “It is likely this number may rise slightly while latter arrests are processed and a further confirmatory update will be provided in the morning.”
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