A Met commander has defended the rescue efforts of officers after a teenage boy drowned in the River Lea.

The body of Jack Susianta was pulled out of the canal at 5.20pm on Wednesday (29 July) after eyewitnesses described the 17-year-old being chased by police into the river before "disappearing" under the water.

Some reports claimed that police refused to enter the water to try and save the drowning teen, with one witness even saying officers stopped a woman from jumping in to try and save him.

Earlier in the day police were called to the teen's home in Clapton, where his family were concerned for his welfare.

It is understood by the time officers arrived the student had smashed the window of his house and escaped.

He was being pursued by officers, attempting to assist him, when he entered the canal.

Met's commander for east London, Lucy D'Orsi, issued a statement denying that officers refused to enter the water and maintained a life aid was thrown to the male.

She said: "Our thoughts are with Jack’s family - it is hard to comprehend the pain they must be feeling after losing a loved one so young. It's also a traumatic event for the people on the river bank who witnessed the events unfold and the police officers involved in the incident.

"Officers first tried to use a life aid and throw lines to him before an officer, who then needed assistance himself, entered dangerous water to try and safe Jack’s life. Met divers also entered the water in a rescue operation to try and save Jack.

“When police have been involved in an incident where someone has died we must refer ourselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission so they can look at the circumstances of what has happened.

“We have done this and this means that the detail and context around what exactly happened and the actions that were taken may take time to come out.

“My colleagues across London deal with high risk situations everyday, putting themselves at risk and running to things that most would run from.

“It's not easy for them or their families and therefore when judged I believe they deserve to be judged fairly.”