Police officers took approximately eight minutes to discover the fatal stab wound that led to the death of Henry Nowak after apprehending the teenager, as revealed by newly disclosed evidence. Shocking bodycam footage from the police showed Henry, aged 18, expressing difficulty breathing as he was being handcuffed. Despite Henry mentioning he had been stabbed, an officer dismissed his claim initially.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing Henry multiple times in Southampton. Digwa misled the authorities by falsely reporting a racist attack on December 3, 2025.
A full transcript of the police bodycam footage obtained by the BBC unveiled the officer’s panic upon realizing the severity of Henry’s injuries. Within three minutes of arrival, Henry was lying motionless, prompting the officers to urgently request medical assistance.
During the resuscitation attempts, officers accidentally struck Henry’s head on a wall before administering CPR. As the situation escalated, it became apparent that Henry was gravely injured. A paramedic arriving on the scene confirmed a stab wound on Henry’s chest, sparking a race against time to save his life.
The transcript concluded approximately nine minutes after the police’s arrival, with medical personnel taking over resuscitation efforts. Despite their best efforts, Henry succumbed to his injuries at 00:37 on December 4, 2025.
During the trial, Judge William Mousley KC commended the officer’s efforts in a challenging situation. The pathologist affirmed in court that the fatal wound caused extensive internal bleeding, leaving no chance of saving Henry.
Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, expressed his anguish over the treatment of his son by the police but urged against using his death to fuel division. Hampshire Police issued an apology to Henry’s family for the handling of the situation, acknowledging the tragedy captured in the footage.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating the officers’ actions in response to the incident.