Police took eight minutes to find Henry Nowak's stab wound before paramedics arrived, new transcript reveals

Police took eight minutes to find Henry Nowak’s stab wound before paramedics arrived, a new transcript from the incident has revealed.

The new evidence was released by the BBC, with no objections from Mr Nowak’s family, and reveals the panic of the officers upon realising he had stopped breathing.

Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years after killing Mr Nowak in Southampton in December.

The transcript can be read in full below. Some readers may find it distressing:

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Male police officer: “I’m not sure he’s breathing.”

Female officer checks for a pulse in his neck.

Male officer: “He’s not breathing.”

Female officer: “Right, let’s get the handcuffs off.”

Male officer: “Let me know he’s not breathing.”

Female officer: “Yeah. (Speaking into her radio) From 4-8 we don’t think he’s breathing. Could we get another unit here please? Got no pulse.”

Male officer: (unlocks handcuffs). “Medic or anything. ARV.”

Female officer: (Talks on police radio). “ARV towards (us) if we’ve got them with a defib.”

Male officer: (Removes handcuffs).

Male officer: “He’s not unconscious mate, he’s not breathing. (continues chest compressions). Come on mate. That’s it, that’s it. Keep breathing. Come on. (Pauses briefly). No.

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Female officer: “No? Keep going.”

Male officer: “Come on mate. Stay with us.”

Female officer: “Yeah, that’s it mate, come on.”

Male officer: “That’s it. Come on, take a breath. (Continues chest compressions). That’s it bro, I got you. Come on.”

Female officer: (Talks on radio). “Go ahead? Thank you. Do you wanna swap?”

Male officer: “No, I’m alright.”

Female officer: “Sure?”

Male officer: “Come on mate. Come on. That’s it. That’s it.”

Medics are now on the phone giving officers CPR advice. As the male officer tires, the female officer takes over CPR.

She then asks a colleague for help.

Female officer: “Have you, can you put a torch…. I just wanna make sure that he hasn’t been stabbed. Are you alright to hold it? Thank you.”

Female officer 2: (Walks into view). “Do you want me to do it? Here you are.”

Female officer: “Cheers mate. (Passes torch to female police officer). Right, they’re gonna want him down to skin level for defib.”

Female officer 2: “I’ve got some … oh SCAS are here.”

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) arrived as the officers continued CPR, as the extent of Mr Nowak’s injuries became apparent to officers.

Female officer: “Have you got scissors? Grab some scissors.”

Male officer: (Continues chest compressions). Come on, mate (Whispers). He’s [swears] gone. He’s got blood coming out of his nose. (Talks quietly. He’s [swears] gone.”

Female officer: “Right, if you stretch that clothing for me. Stretch it out. Perfect. (Unseen gesture/cutting of clothing). There’s a lot of blood.”

Male officer: “Has he been stabbed there?”

Female officer: “Yeah, he’s got a stab… there’s a mark there.”

Male officer: “That makes it worse. He’s got a stab… I’m pushing on a [swears] stab wound. (Sound of clothing being ripped).”

Female officer: “That’s okay. It’s fine. It’s not … it’s not coming out/ It’s fine. Keep going. Keep going. It’s not bleeding out.”

Male officer: (Continues chest compressions).

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