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Boy got off school bus early before jumping into Thames, inquest hears

Zaheid Ali died after falling from London’s Tower Bridge (City of London Police/PA) (PA Media)
Zaheid Ali died after falling from London’s Tower Bridge (City of London Police/PA) (PA Media)

A teenage boy died after jumping into the River Thames minutes after getting off the bus on his way to school, an inquest has heard.

Zaheid Ali, 13, was pulled from the river eight days after plummeting from Tower Bridge on April 20.

The Year 8 pupil from Ark Globe Academy in Elephant and Castle, south London had been travelling with a friend on the bus but got off a stop early before heading to the bridge, an inquest at Inner London Coroner’s Court heard on Tuesday.

Bystanders threw life buoys into the water while others went in to try to save Zaheid but were unsuccessful, according to evidence heard at the the opening of the inquest.

An inquest has opened into Zaheid Ali’s death (City of London Police/PA) (PA Media)
An inquest has opened into Zaheid Ali’s death (City of London Police/PA) (PA Media)

Assistant Coroner Dr Julian Morris said: “He was travelling to school by bus with a friend, got off the bus one stop early and made his way to Tower Bridge.

“He entered the bridge, climbed over the barrier before jumping into the river.

“Witnesses threw life buoys into the river and entered the river but were unable to save him.”

He added that would-be rescuers retrieved only his coat and rucksack at that time.

Over a week later, he was found wearing a school uniform with name tags which helped to identify him, the inquest heard.

A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of the Southwark teenager’s death was “immersion”.

The inquest was adjourned and will resume on a date to be fixed.

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