A "bubbly" young man who drowned in the River Thames while being arrested has been named and pictured for the first time.
Liam Allan, 23, was stopped by police in south west London on Friday night.
The labourer was standing on steps outside Bill's Kingston restaurant on Riverside Walk, and was in the process of being arrested when he entered the water just after 10.30pm.
Two hours later, Liam's body was pulled from the Thames and despite the best efforts of paramedics he was pronounced dead, MyLondon reports.
Police officers were flagged down after a verbal altercation and an allegation of theft.
Liam's family say he had been drinking but they believe he was "calm" while talking to police before he entered the water.
Body-worn camera footage is currently under review to see how he entered the river.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), a standard procedure with any death that happens following police contact.
The Met Police says Liam was not placed in handcuffs at any point.
In a heartbreaking tribute, Liam's dad James Allen said: "I am broken. He was just so bubbly. He would talk to anyone. He would do anything for anyone.
"He was a little git sometimes, he was no angel, he had his tellings off, but he had a good heart.
"He would give someone his last pound, and he often did. I was with him in Hounslow once and he gave a homeless bloke some money. Considering he did not have a lot himself.
"He would talk to the most random people walking down the street, he would always come in with bits for the kids. It's been a bad couple of years, we lost my mum and dad, and now Liam."
James revealed that Liam has not only left behind his beloved brother Tyler, 14, and little sister Jessica, five, but also another brother and two sisters on his mum's side.
He added: "He was a good kid. He was trying so hard... He had big dreams [of doing music] and from what I have been told he was quite good as well."
Liam's brother Ethan, 17, said: "He was happy. He was just such a happy person. Everyone that he made a great impact on. He just lit up a room. He was just the funniest person too.
"It's a death we can laugh at for him. He was that kind of person, he would not want us to cry but celebrate his life. That's the kind of person that he was.
"He wanted to try and make a name for himself with his rapping. It was one of his dreams to become big in music. I would never really see him staying still.
"He was always doing something, he was always on the move. He would always be the first one I call if I needed help. If I was in trouble he would always be there to scare them away and make me feel comfortable. He would always save the day."
Liam's step-mum Leanne also paid tribute, adding: "He honestly had a heart of gold. He would never hurt anyone. He had the biggest personality, he was not a horrible person at all."
A GoFundMe page has since been set-up in Liam's memory to help with funeral costs and has raised nearly £2,000 already.
Friend Suzie Raynsford posted on Facebook : "Liam you was the life and soul of the party always made everyone laugh even when you didn’t want to I’m glad I crossed paths with you. I hate the fact I’m sat hear writing this for you so many people are going to miss you more then you will ever know.
"I hope your at peace you gained your wings way to early you had your life ahead of you and now that been taken thinking of his family right now and his other friends we all love you Liam rest in peace buddie save us all a chair."
The Met Police and IOPC response
The Met Police's Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: "My thoughts, and those of the Metropolitan Police Service, are with the friends and family of the man who has sadly lost his life following this incident.
"I fully appreciate the public will be very concerned. We of course share that concern. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards made an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is protocol in any incident in which a person comes to harm following police contact. We will fully support the IOPC's investigation."
A statement from the IOPC said: "Officers attended an altercation involving the man, 24, and a woman at around 10.30pm on Friday (26 August). They made the decision to arrest the man who then entered the water. He had not been placed in handcuffs. The man was recovered from the water at around 12.30am and sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
"IOPC investigators attended the police post-incident procedures to obtain initial accounts from the officers involved. We have now begun the process of gathering and reviewing evidence, including footage of the interaction between officers and the man. Our thoughts are with the man’s loved ones and all those affected by his death."
In a statement, the Met Police said: "At around 22:30hrs on Friday, 26 August, police on routine patrol were flagged down on Kingston Bridge to a verbal altercation involving a man and a woman who were known to each other. An allegation of theft was made. Officers were in the process of arresting the man, believed to be aged in his 20s, when he entered the water. He had not been placed in handcuffs.
"A multi-agency response to locate the man was launched, involving the Met's Marine Policing Unit, National Police Air Service, London Fire Brigade and the RNLI. The man was recovered from the water at around 00:30hrs and treated by paramedics. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead. The man's family have been informed."
