Newly released transcripts reveal a critical eight-minute delay before police officers discovered a fatal stab wound on teenager Henry Nowak, who later died from his injuries. The 18-year-old bled to death last December after being apprehended by officers who had been misled by his attacker.
Tragic Discovery Amidst Initial Misunderstanding
Bodycam footage, which subsequently fueled unrest in Southampton, initially showed officers appearing to disregard Mr. Nowak’s claims of being stabbed. One officer is heard remarking, “I don’t think you have, mate.” Amidst considerable public scrutiny of the police response, a comprehensive transcript of the full recording has been made public.
The transcript details the precise moment officers realized Mr. Nowak was not breathing, triggering urgent resuscitation efforts. The recording begins with Mr. Nowak lying on a gravel driveway, his hands cuffed behind his back. At this point, officers had been at the scene for approximately three minutes and had already requested an ambulance.
A male officer expresses concern, stating, “I’m not sure he’s breathing.” This is followed by a check of Mr. Nowak’s pulse, confirming, “He’s not breathing.” The officer then removes the handcuffs as his female colleague instructs emergency medical services to bring a defibrillator. The two officers then begin to move Mr. Nowak, inadvertently striking his head against a wall. They subsequently take turns performing chest compressions, urging the teenager to “stay with us.”
Medical Intervention and Horrifying Revelation
Emergency dispatchers provide CPR guidance to the officers over the phone, emphasizing the need to “push, push, push.” Ambulance crews arrive on the scene, but the officers continue administering CPR until the paramedics are prepared to take over. As medical personnel begin to cut away Mr. Nowak’s clothing from his chest, officers are horrified to observe blood emanating from his nose, their panic escalating.
Once all of Mr. Nowak’s clothing is removed, the severity of his injuries becomes starkly apparent. “Has he been stabbed there?” the male officer inquires, before describing the action of “pushing on a [expletive] stab wound.” When a paramedic reaches the scene, the male police officer explains that they have “just discovered a stab wound” in Mr. Nowak’s chest.
The transcript concludes around 11:46 PM on December 3, 2025, approximately nine minutes after police arrived, at which point paramedics assumed full medical control. The transcript was obtained following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into the officers’ handling of the incident.
Legal Proceedings and Public Commentary
During the sentencing of the perpetrator, identified as 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, Judge William Mousley KC noted the “genuine shock to the particular police officer, when he realised that he had been giving CPR to Henry when he had a serious chest wound tends to show that he was doing his best in a very difficult situation.” The judge also characterized the narrative provided by the assailant as a “convincing but wholly false narrative” of the events.
Vickrum Digwa received a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years for the murder. Police have extended their apologies to Mr. Nowak’s family, while also stating that the pathologist’s testimony in court indicated “there was nothing officers could have done that day to save Henry” due to the extensive internal bleeding caused by his fatal wound.
The handling of Mr. Nowak’s case has reignited discussions about “two-tier policing.” Critics have suggested that officers may have disbelieved Mr. Nowak’s claims of being stabbed due to his race. Current guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) emphasizes the importance of “not treating everyone the same or being colour-blind.” Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, has advocated for a review of this guidance, stating, “Fairness isn’t getting involved in the language of activism and social engineering. It’s that which led us into conflict with the perception of reality.” He further commented, “We have in some contexts adopted the language of activism. This is something we need to revisit, refresh and make sure that whatever we produce has the effect of doubling down on our impartiality.”
Digwa was sentenced for stabbing Mr. Nowak with a ceremonial knife, approximately 21cm in length, which he claimed to carry as part of his Sikh faith. Records indicate Digwa had previously been investigated in 2023 on suspicion of stealing ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton, but no further action was taken.
Mr. Nowak’s family, who have engaged with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, have expressed a desire for a return to “common-sense policing.” Similarly, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticized police for prioritizing “box ticking” over critical thinking, suggesting officers are burdened by “race action plans, political pressure and activist expectations.” Mrs. Badenoch stated that Mr. Nowak’s death, like the 1993 killing of Stephen Lawrence, should serve as a turning point.
