Bodycam footage released by police has revealed the tragic final moments of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, a Southampton student who repeatedly told officers “I can’t breathe” and “I’ve been stabbed” while suffering from fatal knife wounds.
The footage, released with the permission of Henry’s family following the conclusion of criminal proceedings, shows officers arriving at the scene after Henry had been stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa during a confrontation in Southampton in 2025.
According to the footage, Henry was lying on the ground when officers arrived. Despite repeatedly telling them he had been stabbed and struggling to breathe, officers initially appeared to believe Digwa’s version of events.
Digwa allegedly claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack and told officers that Henry had pulled off his turban and assaulted him. Officers questioned Digwa about his injuries before turning their attention to Henry.
As Henry lay on the ground, he repeatedly stated that he had been stabbed. One officer responded, “I don’t think you have, mate,” before Henry was handcuffed and placed under arrest for assault.
During the encounter, Henry told officers he could not breathe multiple times. The footage shows officers briefly checking him before leaving him lying on his side. At one point, another officer can be heard questioning where he had supposedly been stabbed, while a colleague stated: “He hasn’t been stabbed.”
Moments later, Henry became unresponsive.
Medical evidence presented during the murder trial later confirmed that Henry had suffered multiple stab wounds, including a fatal injury to his heart caused by a 21cm blade. Despite emergency efforts, he died shortly afterwards.
Vickrum Digwa was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. During the trial, it emerged that the weapon used was significantly larger than a traditional Sikh kirpan and had been worn openly in a sheath.
Henry’s family have strongly criticised the police response, describing his treatment as “inhumane and degrading.” His father, Mark Nowak, said his son repeatedly informed officers that he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe, yet was dragged across gravel, handcuffed and arrested as he lay dying.
“Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody,” he said.
The case has sparked national outrage, with politicians from across the political spectrum calling for accountability and answers. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the footage as “disturbing and tragic,” while Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it an “awful, shocking case.”
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct remains ongoing. The watchdog is reviewing bodycam footage, witness statements and evidence presented during the murder trial to determine whether the officers’ actions contributed to the circumstances surrounding Henry’s death.
Hampshire Police has apologised to the family, while senior officers have stated that medical experts concluded Henry’s injuries were so severe that his life could not have been saved. However, the release of the footage has intensified public scrutiny over how the incident was handled and whether warning signs were ignored during the teenager’s final minutes.
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