The 23-year-old laborer who drowned in the Thames after jumping off a bridge to avoid arrest had ‘drunkenly clashed with his girlfriend 30 minutes before,’ according to his father, who criticizes police for not rushing in to save him.
Liam Allan fought with his girlfriend prior to jumping into the Thames.
He entered the water at Bill’s restaurant on Kingston’s Riverside Walk.
Two hours later, his body was recovered from the water and he was pronounced dead.
His father criticized the police for not entering the waist-deep water to save him.
Shortly before his death, the 23-year-old laborer who drowned in the Thames after jumping off a bridge to avoid arrest had clashed with his girlfriend.
On Friday, Liam Allan was out in Kingston, south-west London, with his girlfriend Caitlin and teenage brother. Just after 10:30 p.m., he jumped into the water near Bill’s restaurant on Riverside Walk.
According to his half-brother, he and Caitlin were both “very intoxicated” thirty minutes before disaster struck and were squabbling over a misplaced set of keys.
“It was nothing major,” Mr. Adami-Clack recalled. Caitlin merely had Liam’s keys and phone, but the two were quite intoxicated.
Later, when Caitlin was being examined by the police approximately 100 meters from Kingston Bridge, she heard a “huge splash” and recognized Mr. Allan as the perpetrator.
She reportedly went to the bridge’s corner, where she observed him swimming away from cops. She attempted to follow him into the water, but police stopped her.
After an effort at CPR, Mr. Allan’s body was recovered from the water two hours later and he was pronounced dead.
Now, after his death, the father of the 23-year-old has criticized authorities for not leaping into the ‘waist-deep water’ to save him, stating that they did nothing except watch.
The devastated father reportedly alleged that authorities told certain family members that Mr. Allan had died, while others were given “false hope” by being told he was still alive.
The family awaits the outcome of the Independent Office of Police Conduct’s (IOPC) investigation, but they are concerned that evidence will be lost during the investigation.
Liam Allan, the 23-year-old laborer who drowned in the Thames after jumping off a bridge to avoid arrest, had an argument with his girlfriend just before his passing.
Friday about 10.30 p.m., Liam Allan entered the water near Bill’s restaurant on Riverside Walk in Kingston, south-west London. There are images of investigators at the scene.
Friday night, Ethan Adami-Clack, 17, met his half-brother, Mr. Allan, and Caitlin for drinks.
Ethan had stopped drinking early in the evening, recognizing the pair’s volatile connection, while Mr. Allan and Caitlin grew progressively inebriated.
As his quarrel with Caitlin escalated 30 minutes prior to Mr. Allan’s tragic death on Kingston Bridge, the teenager departed.
“It was nothing major,” Mr. Adami-Clack recalled. Caitlin merely had Liam’s keys and phone, but the two were quite intoxicated.
Mr. Allan jumped into the river when police were interviewing Caitlin outside a TK Maxx store around 100 metres from the bridge.
Caitlin allegedly attempted to follow her boyfriend into the water but was prevented by cops.
Officers lost sight of Mr. Allan after he reached the second arch of Kingston Bridge, which is not lit. It was stated that police did not use the red life ring by the river.
“We’re awaiting the bodycam footage,” Mr. Adami-Clack stated. Until then, I’m more or less just piecing the tale together.
He continued, “I just want everyone to know that he jumped in assuming he would make it across.”
Caitlin, the girlfriend of Mr. Allan, was being questioned by the police around 100 yards away from Kingston Bridge when she heard a “huge splash” that she recognized as her lover. She reportedly ran to the corner of Kingston Bridge where she observed him swimming away from police; however, cops prevented her from entering the water after him.
After an effort at CPR, Mr. Allan’s body was recovered from the water two hours later and he was pronounced dead.
Since his passing, Mr. Allan’s father, James ‘Jamie’ Allan, has stated that officers should have entered the river, given it was only up to their waists.
Jamie asserts that he returned to the area after the disaster and waded into the middle of the river to determine its depth.
He stated that the water was barely up to his waist when he first entered and did not reach his neck until the middle, and he wondered why authorities did not intervene.
He further asserted that when Caitlin entered the water to assist him, policemen yanked her out, contrary to accounts that police prohibited her from entering the water.
He reported that the police simply stood and observed, assuring Caitlin that he would be alright as they could see him.
Jamie recounted what he knew about the night: “Liam was drinking with his brother and girlfriend in Kingston; at some point, he and his girlfriend got into a fight on the top of the bridge.”
“Police were flagged down; one officer was speaking with his girlfriend; another officer took him to speak with him and escorted him down the steps to the riverbank.”
‘
As they conversed with Liam, he moved closer and closer to the riverbank.
“As the news of Liam’s impending arrest came over the radio, I heard that Liam had ended up in the river. As they proceeded to apprehend him, he ended up in the river for reasons I do not yet understand. And the police officers did nothing; they merely observed him.
I literally leaped into the river where he did the night before. I entered by myself, and it reached my waist. It’s not too deep, so the officer might have pursued him immediately and possibly gotten his bottom wet.
I traveled quite a distance before my neck became soaked.
‘Another thing I learned was that his girlfriend dived into the water to save him, but he was not rescued.
They reassured her, “Don’t worry, we can see him and he’ll be fine.” I simply want to know what has transpired.
Now, following his death, the father of the 23-year-old has criticized authorities for not rushing into the ‘waist-deep water’ to help him, stating that they did nothing but stand by and watch.
Mr. Allan’s bereaved father alleged that authorities told some family members that Liam had died while giving others ‘false hope’ by claiming they did not know if he was still alive.
Jamie also stated that some family members were told he was deceased, while others were told he was possibly still alive.
He stated, “Police arrived the night of the incident and informed us that they did not even know if he was alive.”
However, they were only giving us false hope, since they had already informed his mother that he was deceased.
“According to them, Liam remained cool the entire time and did not raise his voice at all. However, they did not provide a detailed account of what transpired; they only stated that he fell into the sea.
Why did the police take him all the way down to the riverbank?
It was an alleged theft, but his girlfriend was constantly calling the police on him, and it was not a theft. They were out together; what would he have brought with him?
The relatives of Mr. Allan told MyLondon that he had been drinking, but they believed he was ‘cool’ when speaking with police.
Police claim that he was not shackled based on a study of body-worn camera footage.
His father, Jamie, stated, “I am shattered. He was really outgoing. He would converse with anyone. He would go to any lengths for a friend.
‘He was a lovely child. He was trying so diligently… According to what I’ve been told, he was a talented musician with ambitious musical ambitions.
Jamie also expressed concern that evidence will be lost during the investigation.
Sincerely, I’m devastated, and I have no idea what to do next. Not knowing as well is killing me,’ he shared. I have a feeling that this bodycam film will be partially removed, censored, or otherwise altered.
Mr. Allan, who worked as an independent contractor in construction but aspired to be a rapper, is survived by his brother Tyler, 14, sister Jessica, 5, and a brother and two sisters on his mother’s side.
Mr. Allan as a child with his biological father, James, and stepmother, Leanne.
Mr. Allan was also remembered at the scene in Kingston.
Mr. Adami-Clack commented at the memorial about his brother’s six-month relationship with Caitlin.
The adolescent revealed, “He and she had a really tumultuous relationship; they loved one other dearly, but they weren’t good for each other.”
He resided in Tolworth, then Feltham, then Staines, and for the past year or so he has been residing in Ashford.
“I was conversing with his neighbors about what he was like previously, and they stated that when he came here a year ago, he was a completely different person.
Since he met his girlfriend roughly six months ago, the world has been a crazy place.
The police had broken down the door of the house after an argument between the occupants resulted in the door being destroyed.
He had a wooden plank over the entrance and a padlock to secure it. You cannot live this way.
‘They destroyed around eight televisions and a large number of telephones; as a result, he was forced to use a brick phone.
Before her, he had no criminal record, I might add.
‘I don’t place all the blame on her since he was just as awful; he exploited her a couple times; he had a manipulative side. However, according to many who knew him, he was an exceptionally decent individual.
‘He was evicted due to their disagreements, but he never struck her or did anything similar.
Liam’s childhood was difficult; he frequently ran away from home. We were able to get him out of care because he kept running away.’
Mr. Adami-Clack recalled learning of his brother’s passing in the middle of the night.
“I awoke at 1:00 a.m. on Saturday; my mother received the news first.” She woke me up screaming and crying as she opened the door to the cops, but I did not believe her.
“At the moment, they did not provide us enough information about what had occurred, so I was bewildered. It took hours to obtain additional information.
Everyone who encountered him had a smile on their face, he was the kindest and most kind person imaginable.
Mr. Allan was also remembered at the scene in Kingston.
Mr. Allan’s remarks at the memorial site regarding his six-month relationship with Caitlin were as follows: ‘He and she had a very tumultuous relationship; they loved each other dearly, but they weren’t good for each other.’
The IOPC has began gathering and analyzing material, including footage of the interaction between the officers and Mr. Allan, it has stated.
It is already examining the death of another man, 41-year-old Oladeji Adeyemi Omishore, who fell from Chelsea Bridge on June 4 after being Tasered three times by police.
The full Met Police statement reads: ‘At about 22:30 hours on Friday, August 26th, regular patrolling officers were flagged down on Kingston Bridge in response to a verbal argument between a known man and female.
“A theft allegation was made. When he entered the water, officers were in the midst of arresting a man thought to be in his 20s. He was not restrained with handcuffs.
Met’s Marine Policing Unit, National Police Air Service, London Fire Brigade, and the RNLI began a multi-agency operation to identify the man.
“At approximately 00:30, the man was retrieved from the water and treated by paramedics.” Despite their efforts, he was determined to be deceased. His relatives have been informed.
Police cordons remain in place, as investigations continue. The Directorate of Professional Standards of the Metropolitan Police Service has referred a case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The IOPC has began gathering and examining evidence, including footage of the encounter between officers and Mr. Allan, according to a statement.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor stated, “My thoughts and those of the Metropolitan Police Service are with the family and friends of the man who tragically lost his life as a result of this tragedy.”
“I am aware that the people will be quite concerned. We certainly share your worry. In accordance with policy, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards immediately referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct whenever a person is injured as a result of police engagement.
We will fully support the investigation by the IOPC.
The IOPC issued the following statement: ‘IOPC investigators attended the police post-incident procedures in order to acquire first reports from the implicated officers.
“We have began gathering and analyzing information, including footage of the encounter between officers and the man.”
Our thoughts are with the deceased man’s family and all those affected by his passing.
It follows the death of a 41-year-old man in hospital earlier this year, when he jumped from a bridge into the River Thames after being Tasered three times by police officers.
On June 4, Oladeji Adeyemi Omishore, 41, of Pimlico was involved in an altercation with Metropolitan Police officers on Chelsea Bridge.
On June 4, 41-year-old Oladeji Adeyemi Omishore leaped from Chelsea Bridge after being Tasered three times by police officers.
A frightening video depicts a man yelling at two police officers while brandishing what looks to be a plastic and metal firestarter in his right hand.
A Taser is fired by one of the police, causing the man to fall to the ground. When he attempts to get up, he is shocked a second time.
The 41-year-old, who had a history of mental health concerns, was recovered from the River Thames, but died in hospital the next day.
He persists in his attempts to stand and is shocked a third time while officers command him to remain on the floor.
The man then leaps over one of the barricades toward the bridge’s edge while being pursued by a police officer, before vaulting over the railings and into the River Thames below.
After falling from the bridge, the RNLI initiated a rescue operation and recovered him from the water.
He passed away in the hospital the next day.
The Metropolitan Police forwarded the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which has now opened an investigation.
The family of Mr. Omishore found it “incomprehensible” that the accused police were not probed for professional misconduct or criminal charges, stating that the Taser deployment “amounted to excessive use of force.”
A spokeswoman for the IOPC stated, “Our thoughts and condolences are with Oladeji Omishore’s family and friends.
“Our investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is moving well, and our investigators are still gathering and analyzing crucial information.”
“At this early time, we have no indication that any of the participating officers may have violated police professional standards or committed a criminal offense; nonetheless, we are always reviewing conduct issues.”
We continue to communicate with Mr. Omishore’s family in order to keep them apprised of our work.