Floral tributes – including those provided by a local florist – have been placed on Peterborough town bridge near to where a man died after jumping into the River Nene following a police chase. The body was discovered on Saturday morning after the man had jumped into the river the day before.
“The man was seen yesterday afternoon (Friday) in Bridge Street and identified as a person wanted on suspicion of shoplifting offences,” said a police spokesperson..
“Officers attended and the man ran from the scene and entered the water.
“Formal identification is yet to take place, but the man’s family have been informed.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious and the case will be passed to the coroner.”
An online article – not yet updated – wrongly claimed that it was the same man who fled after an alleged incident at Asda supermarket at Viersen Platz.
Police corrected that earlier version, but it remains online.
“The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) by the force’s Professional Standards Department,” said the police spokesperson.
The death of the man has prompted a massive response from the public, not least on the Policing Peterborough Facebook page. Reports of the incident have attracted 300 comments.
“No, he didn’t deserve it, yes he made a mistake by stealing and running and jumping into the river but doesn’t give anyone the right to say he deserved it,” says one post.
“A man lost his life regardless. Maybe if the world weren’t so cruel/hard people wouldn’t make these choices. Rest in peace to the man who lost his life and condolences to his family.”
Another described “vile comments” on the thread as “shocking – I pray that you never go through any struggles in your life.
“The man in question was an incredible funny kind caring man. The room would light up when he came in.
“He will be missed so much! Leave the vile comments and think of his family and friends.”
A third poster wrote: “He was not stealing anything. Everyone believes false information!
“Have you ever considered that he ran in fear and that led to him choose the river as the only option to him in his mind? Maybe because of experiences he’s had?
“Fight or flight mode is real, and everyone needs to stop pushing with the false information that he was stealing, he was not
“Even if he was stealing (which he was not), it does not justify death.”
One other wrote again emphasised “he was not stealing. So, before you start maybe think and not believe everything you read.”
Another added: “It was false information – he wasn’t robbing and it’s breaking our hearts that everyone thinks he’s a bad person.
“He was a good brother, dad, son.
“We have laid flowers down at the river with the families flowers. Big thanks to Lovelaces Flowers Peterborough for the generosity.”
Flowers left on Peterborough town bridge after a man drowned after he jumped into the River Nene to escape police.
