Family 'So Proud' as Posthumous Royal Honour Awarded to Thames Hero
The brother of a young man who tragically died after leaping into the River Thames to rescue a drowning woman has spoken of his family's immense pride, following the presentation of a posthumous King's Commendation for Bravery. Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, aged just 20, lost his life in April 2021 after heroically jumping into the water near London Bridge upon seeing a woman in distress as he walked home from a night shift.
A Bittersweet Ceremony at St James's Palace
During a poignant ceremony held at St James's Palace on Wednesday, Folajimi's father, Michael Olubunmi-Adewole, received the prestigious award from the King on behalf of his late son. The emotional event highlighted the extraordinary courage displayed by Folajimi, whose selfless act has been formally recognised by the monarchy.
Folajimi's brother, Ayodeji, 34, shared his feelings with the Press Association, stating, "We are so proud." He recounted, "Even the King said it himself, he remarked that for his age—because he was 20 when the incident happened—for a young man to risk his life for another means a great deal." Ayodeji emphasised that this gesture speaks volumes about his brother's character, adding, "I think that shows who he is, without me even speaking of him." He noted that Folajimi's first instinct was always to help others, saying, "His first instinct was to save this person."
Mixed Emotions for a Grieving Family
The woman involved in the incident was successfully rescued by the coastguard and marine police units. However, Folajimi's body was discovered several hours later, marking a devastating outcome to his brave intervention. Ayodeji described receiving the award as "a mixed feeling, sweet and bitter." He explained, "We say sweet because he got this honour. The bitter aspect is because he's not here to receive the honour itself." This sentiment underscores the profound loss felt by the family, even as they celebrate his recognition.
Additional Acts of Bravery Honoured
The ceremony also celebrated other remarkable individuals who demonstrated exceptional courage in perilous situations. Richard O'Brien, a motorist from Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, was awarded the King's Gallantry Medal for intervening in a knife attack in Barnet during September 2021. Mr O'Brien, aged 35 and a director of an electrical contracting business, witnessed a man stabbing a woman and immediately stopped to help. He restrained the attacker until emergency services arrived, despite the victim having been stabbed ten times.
His partner, Natalie Buckingham, revealed that the victim is "very grateful" and they maintain regular contact. She noted, "She didn't know what happened until the court case. It was only then, after she met Richard, that she actually knew who had saved her. She was very lucky. You can imagine she's very grateful for what he's done." Mr O'Brien reflected that he did not consider the potential risks to himself until after the incident had concluded.
Furthermore, West Yorkshire Police Officer Pc Rhona Adams, aged 29, received a King's Commendation for Bravery for saving a woman who had set herself on fire at a McDonald's outlet in Bradford in June 2024. Pc Adams used an item from her work lanyard to breach a locked disabled toilet door, discovering the woman covered in cooking oil and ablaze. She recounted, "I literally just grabbed hold of her and started patting her down with my hands." This act resulted in burns to her hands, necessitating hospital treatment.
Pc Adams described the experience as "definitely ingrained in my mind," and stated, "I just decided to touch her and hug her and put her needs before my own." Regarding the ceremony, she expressed joy at sharing the moment with her parents, calling it "a once in a lifetime opportunity," while hoping never to face such circumstances again. She added, "It's absolutely amazing, the whole thing. I'm speaking to the King and I'm like, in awe, I'm going 'you're the King'."
