Police officers took eight minutes to discover Henry Nowak’s stab wound, evidence shows

Police officers who arrested Henry Nowak took about eight minutes to discover his stab wound, newly released evidence shows.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for Nowak’s murder after falsely claiming the 18-year-old had racially abused him in Southampton. Nowak was stabbed multiple times while walking back to his student accommodation alone after a night out.

A three-minute police body-worn video was released showing Nowak, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, being placed in handcuffs moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died in December 2025. The footage led to violent protests in the city.

A longer transcript of the footage released by the Crown Prosecution Service, obtained by the BBC, reveals the moment that officers realised Nowak had been stabbed.

In the footage from the incident, Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer replies: “You’ve been stabbed? Whereabouts? Don’t think you have, mate.”

The officer later says “he’s saying he’s been stabbed so let’s just check him and see”, and a female police officer calls for an ambulance, describing how the student’s pupils are not reacting before the video ends.

In the transcript an officer identified as police officer one said: “I’m not sure he’s breathing.” They uncuff Nowak and start CPR.

Police officer one then says: “Come on mate. That’s it, that’s it. Keeping breathing. Come on.”

According to the timestamps, between five minutes and 24 seconds and seven minutes and 33 seconds, a female police officer asks for a torch, wanting to make sure Nowak has not been stabbed, and asks for scissors.

After seven minutes and 33 seconds, the officer cuts his clothing and police officer one asks if he has been stabbed there, with an unseen gesture.

The female officer replies: “Yes, he’s got a stab … there’s a mark there.”

Police officer one adds: “That makes it worse. He’s got a stab … I’m pushing on a fucking stab wound.”

The female officer says: “That’s OK. It’s fine … It’s not coming out. It’s fine. Keep going. Keep going. It’s not bleeding out.”

Police officer one continues chest compressions and then a paramedic arrives. The officer tells him: “We just discovered a stab wound in his chest.”

The recording was released with no objection from Nowak’s family after consultation with Hampshire police.

After the case, Robert France, Hampshire’s temporary deputy chief constable, apologised on behalf of the officers. He added that they were “lied to” and would have been unaware of Nowak’s injury which he said would not have been obvious.

He said: “This is an absolutely tragic case, and my sympathies are absolutely with Henry’s family, his friends, and his loved ones.

“I want to apologise, I want to say that I am sorry that Henry couldn’t be saved that night. I’m sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested in the moments before he lost consciousness.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire police’s response to the incident.

The jury inquest into Nowak’s death next year at Winchester coroner’s court will look at whether any “act or omission by a police officer” caused or contributed to his death.