The release of new police bodycam footage is casting a harsh light on local law enforcement practices, following a tragic incident involving an 18-year-old university student in Southampton. The footage reveals that officers handcuffed the young man, who was repeatedly pleading that he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe, just moments before he succumbed to his injuries on the street.
This video, made public on Monday after the conviction of 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa for murder, captures the final words of Henry Nowak. In the footage, Nowak is heard telling officers, “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe,” as he lay on the ground following the attack on December 3, 2025.
Despite Nowak’s desperate cries, one of the officers is heard responding, “I don’t think you have, mate,” showcasing a stark disconnect in the urgency of the situation.
According to court records previously reported by Sky News, the police decided to handcuff Nowak after Digwa alleged that he had been the target of a racially motivated assault. This decision has now become a focal point of criticism regarding the officers’ handling of the incident.
A police handout image from Hampshire Police shows Henry Nowak, the young man at the center of this distressing event. The circumstances surrounding his tragic death continue to fuel a broader conversation about police response and accountability.
Reuters reported that officers later removed the handcuffs and attempted CPR after realizing Nowak had suffered serious stab wounds.
Digwa was sentenced Monday to life in prison after being convicted of murdering the 18-year-old University of Southampton finance student with a 21-centimeter blade prosecutors described as a Sikh kirpan-style weapon.
The case has sparked political backlash in Britain and renewed debate over policing, race and knife crime.
In a statement read outside court Monday, Nowak’s father, Mark Nowak, said his son repeatedly pleaded for help before losing consciousness.
Vickrum Digwa was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court of murdering university student Henry Nowak by stabbing him five times with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife on Dec. 3, 2025, in Southampton. (Hampshire Police/PA Wire)
“Henry had been stabbed multiple times, and as his chest filled with blood, he tried to escape. He was chased, abused, and filmed by Vickrum Digwa and others,” Mark Nowak said, according to Reuters. “When police arrived, Henry was lying on the floor, barely able to sit up and plainly in severe medical distress.”Â
“With his final words, he told officers that he could not breathe. He told them he had been stabbed,” Mark Nowak said, according to Reuters. “The response from one officer was ‘I don’t think you have, mate,’” he added.
Mark Nowak said the family held Digwa “solely and 100% responsible” for their son’s death, but criticized the police, saying, “Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody. The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading.”
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said the case showed “the fear of being called racist was greater than dealing with Henry Nowak’s murder,” according to Reuters.
Newly released police bodycam footage is intensifying scrutiny of local police after officers handcuffed an 18-year-old university student who repeatedly told them he had been stabbed and could not breathe moments before dying on a Southampton street. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick also called for the release of body-worn camera footage and accused authorities of prioritizing allegations of racism over saving Nowak’s life during an appearance on GB News.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the killing as “an awful, shocking case” and said it was right that the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigate the police response.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, the police force responsible for policing Southampton and surrounding areas in southern England, previously apologized after the conviction, with Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France saying he was sorry that Nowak had been handcuffed “in the moments before he lost consciousness,” according to Sky News.
The police force remains under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
News Media reached out to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary for comment but did not receive a response.Â
Reuters contributed to this story.
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