Police withdrew from river rescue over gun fears
The inquest into Pawel Przydalski, a 26-year-old Polish national who drowned in the River Leam in November 2014, has heard evidence from officers in its second day at Warwick Crown Court.
Opening on Monday, they heard that on November 15, Mr Przydalski, who lived in Leamington, was drinking by the footbridge in the Pump Room Gardens with his fiancé, Kamila Kowalik and her brother Piotr before he got into the water.
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Hide AdOn Tuesday, the jury heard that four officers were sent to the Pump Room Gardens that night after emergency calls that a man was in the river.
They began searching on both sides of the river and made attempts to get close, and to instruct Pawel to get out of the water. But were not successful.
Aaron Tighe, who served as a special constable at the time, said he immediately searched the police car and nearby for anything which could be used as a float or buoyancy aid - but found nothing and instead rushed to the river to try and help.
It was shortly after that he was made aware of a teenage boy in the park who reported having seen a gun.
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