Mild weather may have helped find body believed to be Clapham attack suspect

23 February 2024 , 16:20

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Police launched numerous searches in the River Thames (Image: Getty Images)

The mild weather may have helped passers-by spot the body of Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi - but the warmer temperatures could also have speeded up decomposition, according to specialist experts.

The Met Police previously believed that Ezedi entered the River Thames from Chelsea Bridge hours after he allegedly threw alkaline at his ex-girlfriend and her two children in South London. In the latest developement, the force confirmed they had located a body, that is thought to be the 35-year-old.

The development came after the crew of a passing boat alerted the authorities after they saw a corpse in the water at Tower Pier EC3. The Met Police confirmed the body was recovered by the Marine Policing Unit and has been looked at by detectives working on the investigation.

Eric Matechak, who has spent more than two decades boating and fishing on the Thames, and expert diver, Nicolai Lonne, have shared some of the contributing factors which could have had a part in locating what is thought to be the suspect's body. Eric suggested that "clearer sightlines" caused by "temperate days" is something to consider. He explained that "calmers waters" could have helped the witnesses see the body.

Abdul Ezedi was on the run following the attack in Clapham (PA)

Ezedi was left with facial injuries after he was said to have hurled the substance (PA)

However, the experts also warned that the "warmer spell" could have "accelerated" the decomposition process - which could slow up the process of formal identification. Speaking about how long it took to retrieve the body, Nicolai, co-founder of review site DIVEIN, told The Mirror: "It's certainly not uncommon for bodies to be discovered weeks or even months later in large rivers and oceans, once decomposition and the movement of currents bring someone ashore. For divers and watermen, we unfortunately see too often how the tides can later return what was once lost at sea."

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He added: "The milder temperatures in the River Thames this past week could certainly have been a factor in the recovery of the body. Warmer waters not only make diving operations easier, but it impacts decomposition rates. Colder water temperatures slow decomposition, meaning bodies can be better preserved over the winter months. The warmer spell likely accelerated decomposition processes, making the remains more visible now than if colder temperatures had persisted.

Police were pictured as they retrieved a body on February 19 (Sky News)

Eric, who is the founder of Freshwater Fishing Advice, described how the "less stormy weather " helps provide a "viewing channel" which can make it easier to notice things in water. "The relatively calmer waters we've seen recently may have aided the boating passersby in spotting the deceased in the Thames," he said. "When the river is churning with boat traffic plus wind and rain, visibility below the surface diminishes substantially. However, the milder, less stormy weather opens that viewing channel - sunlight can penetrate deeper and with less sediment churned up, make underwater objects or remains more discernible.

"So while increased recreational boating due to warmer temps may have played a role, so too did the clearer sightlines afforded by sunny, temperate days." He added: "The Thames is unforgiving, but it rarely hides its secrets forever. My heart goes out to all those affected by this senseless attack."

Ezedi was last spotted near Chelsea Bridge on the night of the attack (PA)

Met Police commander Jon Savell confirmed that the body was recovered on Monday ( February 19 ) following a number of low tide searches. He earlier said: “Based on the distinctive clothing he was wearing at the time of the attack and property found on his body, we strongly believe we have recovered the body of Ezedi. We have been in contact with his family to pass on the news.

“As you may expect after a considerable period of time in the strong current of the Thames, formal identification is not possible visually, nor from fingerprints. We will work with the coroner on other ways to complete formal identification, such as DNA testing and dental records. That may take some time.

”Our enquiries continue into the attack. I am pleased to say the condition of the 31-year-old woman has improved. She remains in hospital but she is in a stable condition and no longer sedated. We have still not been able to speak to her but hope to as soon as she is well enough. Again, I thank all those hundreds of members of the public who called us with information during the hunt for Ezedi. The public support for our investigation was overwhelming and every piece of information provided was followed up.”

Monica Charsley