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Plaque unveiled for hero south London student who died saving woman from Thames

A plaque has been unveiled in memory of an ex-Peckham student who died trying to rescue a drowning woman from the River Thames. 

Folajimi "Jimi" Olubumni-Adewole, a former pupil at Harris Academy Peckham, died in April 2021. 

The plaque honouring him was unveiled by the Living Bankside charity yesterday (January 22) in Cathedral Square near London Bridge, where he jumped in.

Jimi was on his way home from work at a central London restaurant when he and another man, Joaquin Garcia, entered the water. 

Joaquim and the woman were saved by the coastguard and marine police but Jimi couldn't be found.

His body was recovered about six hours later near London Bridge.

Mayor of London, who attended the ceremony, said Jimi's extraordinary act of bravery will never be forgotten. 

He added the plaque means the city will never forget the Bermondsey boy and hero. 

In a tweet on Twitter, he explained: "Jimi Olubunmi-Adewole’s extraordinary act of bravery, jumping into the Thames to rescue a woman from drowning, will never be forgotten.

"This plaque unveiled today means the city which mourns Jimi will also never forget him – the Bermondsey boy & hero who became a symbol of light."