Teenager’s body pulled from canal after being chased by police

Marine Policing Unit searches the canal. Photograph: @giladmcateer

A teenager has died in the canal near Lea Bridge Road after being chased by police.

The 17-year-old, who has been named locally as Jack Susianta, smashed a window at his home in Clapton.

Police responded to a call from his family who were concerned about his welfare, but by the time the police arrived just after 3pm he had left.

A boy matching his description was seen by officers on Hackney Marshes around an hour later but on seeing police he ran.

A Met police statement said: “Officers tried to stop the male in order to assist him, but, prior to police officers reaching him, the male entered the canal near to Lea Bridge Road.

“A police officer entered the canal in an attempt to rescue him, but the male went under the water.”

“A search of the canal and surrounding area was conducted by police officers with the assistance of dog units, the police helicopter, the Marine Policing Unit and London Fire Brigade. London Ambulance Service also attended the scene.”

At around 5.20pm the body of a male, which was not yet been formally identified, was recovered from the water by officers from the Met’s Marine Policing Unit.

Hackney Police’s Twitter account had also tweeted appeals over the disappearance of Susianta in the early hours of Tuesday, followed about an hour later by a message saying he had been found.

The Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed of the incident and made a mandatory referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.