A 17-year-old YouTube vlogger known as Carnage has been condemned by police and the RNLI after jumping from Tower Bridge into the River Thames as part of a stunt. Shah Faisal Shinwari, a performing arts student, said the jump was a dare from one of his 27,000 subscribers. He later apologised, calling it his 'stupidest video idea'.
The incident occurred on 16 July, with the video posted a week later. Shinwari, wearing a red hoodie and board shorts, can be seen pacing on the bridge before jumping into the fast-flowing water. He struggled in the water, shouting for help, and was rescued by a life raft thrown by a bystander. Police and ambulance crews attended the scene, and he was taken to hospital as a precaution.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed officers responded to reports of a person in the Thames near Butler's Wharf. Shinwari was not arrested but was treated for shock. He said he would donate to the RNLI, whose lifeboat assisted in the rescue.
Tony Wafer, RNLI community safety manager, expressed disappointment, stating: 'Jumping into the Thames from a bridge is extremely dangerous - the shock of cold water makes it very difficult to swim and strong currents can rapidly sweep people away.' He urged others not to attempt similar stunts.
