Man who drowned in canal had fear of water

Published: Friday, 14 January 2022

A MAN who lost his life in the Lee & Stort Navigation suffered his worst nightmare an inquest was told.

The family of the student who died after falling into the waterway on his electric bike told the inquest that his ‘worst nightmare was drowning’.

Police chase

Lamont Roper, (23), with three friends were riding e-scooters on the towpath in Marksfield Park, Tottenham, in the dark when asked to stop by undercover police on cycles, but failed to do so, frantically riding off with the police chasing them.

But approaching Lock 17 the police caught up with the riders and Lamont fell from his bike into the water as did another of the riders, and though the other was pulled out by the officers, Lamont could not be seen.

It was the following morning that his body was eventually recovered by divers.