Leszek Sliwowski, a 51 year old father from Tottenham drowned in the River Lee Canal in Edmonton. Mr Sliwowski entered the water intoxicated, and witnesses raised alarm once they realised he had not returned from the water.

PC Richard Talmadge waded into the water where after feeling around he was able to discover Mr Sliwowski’s body and pulled him out of the water. Despite the efforts of the paramedics who quickly arrived, Sliwowski was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tests carried out subsequent to his death revealed 320 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 milligrams of his blood; not only is this four times over the drink limit, but it is also enough to put the average person in a coma.

Coroner Andrew Walker praised PC Talmadge for his bravery in wading into the water to pull Mr Sliwowski from the canal bed, saying “You took it upon yourself to recover Mr Sliwowski and you are to be commended for that.”