Plaque unveiled in tribute to 'hero' Cinnamon Club waiter

A plaque has been unveiled in memory of a "heroic" member of the Cinnamon Club restaurant team in London who died after jumping into the River Thames to save a woman's life.

Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, known as Jimi, dived into the water to help a drowning woman late at night in April 2021.

The 20-year-old was tragically found dead almost six hours later and was praised as a "true hero" by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Emergency services were able to rescue the woman and another man from the river.

Olubunmi-Adewole was a commis waiter at the Cinnamon Club, where he had worked since November 2019.

A plaque was unveiled in his honour at Cathedral Square, by Southwark Cathedral, on Monday (22 January).

Speaking at the ceremony, Amir Eden, executive chair of Living Bankside, said: "Folajimi selflessly and bravely jumped from Cathedral Square to rescue a woman in the River Thames.

"Tragically he didn't survive whilst attempting to save another. May his selfless courage, kindness and positivity be an inspiration to us all.

"I hope that we can take inspiration from him and other heroes to commit ourselves to helping others."

Olubunmi-Adewole's brother Bolaji Olubunmi-Adewole said: "We no longer feel sorry...today we are celebrating life now. We are grateful for this recognition of Folajimi."

Khan spoke of how Folajimi heard a woman scream in the water and went down stairs by the river to try and save her, knowing he was risking his own life.

"We can't imagine the pain Jimi's friends and family are going through but I hope they also have pride in him. They raised an amazing young man." said Khan.

"Jimi was a hero. When we heard what he did that night, I think that story should be told again and again and again."

Khan added: "If you try and bottle up the best things about humanity, the best things about our city: strength, selflessness, courage, character, humility, bravery, all those things are summed up in this one man - Jimi."

Paying tribute to Folajimi in 2021, Vivek Singh, executive chef at the Cinnamon Club, described him as a well-liked and "selfless individual".

He added: "Jimi, as he was known to everyone at the Cinnamon Club, was a much-loved member of the front of house team and we are all reeling from this incredibly tragic news. He worked with the Cinnamon Club for over a year and was a diligent, kind and passionate young man, a real team player.

"What he did was a tremendous and selfless act of bravery, to save the life of a complete stranger...he will be remembered as a true hero."

Images: Living Bankside / Twitter