Policeman says he'd have died had he swum after Marcel Wochna

These are the words of PC William Chan at the inquest of Marcel Wochna, a teenager who died after jumping into the River Itchen to evade police.

An inquest into the 15-year-old's death heard how officers didn't identify him as immediately at risk because he wasn't struggling. 

Marcel, who lived in Northcote Road, Southampton with his mother, was found dead more than 24 hours later in the river at Smith's Quay.

READ MORE: Marcel Wochna inquest: Recap of day two

Day two of the inquest at Winchester Coroners Court was told how two officers, PC William Chan and PC Keely Miles had been called to Cobden Marina at around 10.53pm on November 7, 2021, after reports of two males damaging security lights and climbing over boats. 

But after finding Marcel and a friend, the 15-year-old jumped into the river, front-crawl swimming about five metres away from the pontoon where they stood. 

Meanwhile, his friend was handcuffed by PC Miles and led away to harder ground. 

Giving evidence, PC Chan said he unzipped one of the boats where Marcel and the friend were and got Marcel out. 

He said: "He had a very thick hoodie on. I was literally holding on. 

"He said he couldn't breathe. It wasn't like he was being strangled. 

"Sometimes people just like to tell you things so they can get away. 

"Another of my considerations was also the George Floyd incident. 

"I loosened my grip. Then he jumped into the river."

He went on to describe a "big splash", adding that he swam "about five metres out confidently. 

"He wasn't struggling. At that point, I wouldn't consider a risk of drowning."

PC Chan said he did not shout at Marcel after he jumped in as he would not be able to hear.

He added: "If I threw anything in there it would only hinder him getting away."

Asked about an officer's duty to save life, PC Chan said: "Yes, I'm aware of the expectation to save life but again, he was swimming away confidently.

"Even [Marcel's friend] is thinking his friend's getting away.

"We got [his friend] to the other side of the flats and I think I searched him quickly and then I go back and search.

"[It was] a dangerous situation, no doubt about that. 

When questioned on whether he should have focussed on Marcel over his friend that night, PC Chan added: "On reflection, absolutely. He has died. I don't want that on my conscience.

"We might have all ended up in the water and the four of us might not have been here.

"I would have done it differently, very much differently. I probably would have gone onto the pontoon still.

"Maybe asking for a couple more police officers just in case something happened.

"You don't want things like this to happen so of course if you could do it again, you'd do it differently."

The jury was told how the water was not fast-flowing that evening and that it was relatively calm.

Radioing for help, PC Chan said: "Have you got a marine unit or coastguard that can come up?

"One's decided to go swimming."

A colleague then responded saying: "He ain't going to last long in the water in this temperature. It is freezing."

Backup arrived with night vision equipment to help search the water. 

Speaking on the radio at the time, PC Chan described Marcel as a young male, all in black, wearing a balaclava with a hoodie on.

But he told the jury: "I'm not a very strong swimmer. If I'd been in that water I wouldn't be coming out of it."

Also giving evidence, PC Keely Miles said "it was cold out" and that Marcel had been "shouting" at PC Chan before jumping in the water. 

Constable Miles was a junior officer at the time, having joined the force in April 2021. 

She said the officers could not follow Marcel because: "We're told not to go into water. My kit is ridiculously heavy.

"At the time I didn't think of the immediate danger. He was swimming away.

"I didn't realise what cold shock was at the time. 

"I was under the assumption [Marcel] would probably pop out. Climb back out on the bank somewhere further down."

She added that had she seen Marcel struggling, she "would have tried to find something to try and get him out of the water.

"[I] would have let go of [his friend] and leant down and tried to reach Marcel."

No footage of the incident was recorded due to PC Chan's body-worn camera malfunctioning.

PC Miles' camera was not turned on at the time Marcel jumped into the water.

Both officers said they were not aware of Hampshire Constabulary's guidance on working near water before the incident.

The inquest previously heard how Marcel and his friend had been out smoking cannabis that evening and had walked to Cobden Bridge. 

They then boarded a wooden boat, crossing the river with it before dismounting and going to the marina because they were "curious to see what (was) in (the boats)."

Area Coroner Jason Pegg described the incident as a "desperately tragic event". 

The inquest continues.