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Susanna Reid breaks down in tears on GMB as she talks to the sobbing parents of hero who died in River Thames
SUSANNA Reid broke down in tears on Good Morning Britain today as she spoke to the sobbing parents of the hero who died in the River Thames.
Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, 20, died after trying to save a woman who had fallen off London Bridge just after midnight on Saturday.
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Distraught Olasunkanmi Adewole, 54, and Michael Adewola, 63, spoke to mother-of-three Susanna, 50, about their incredibly brave son "Jimi" through tears.
His parents wailed as his mum kept repeating: "Jimi has a good heart".
Susanna was left on the verge of tears before composing herself to comfort the devastated pair, telling them: "My heart is absolutely broken for you.
"It's broken for you as parents."
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Jimi's parents hailed their son a hero, as dad Michael told how proud they were of him.
He said: "I want the government to honour him because the boy, Jimi was a good son to me.
"He was the breadwinner of the house and he was also taking care of us."
Jimi’s death is the second tragedy to strike his family in three years, after cousin Malcolm Mide-Madariola, 17, was stabbed to death for protecting a friend near Clapham South Tube station in 2018.
While the pair spoke to Susanna and Adil via video link Jimi's best friend Bernard Kosia, who was with him on Friday night, joined the hosts in the studio.
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He also broke down in tears as he talked about the rescue mission: "Jimi was adamant, for some reason, that he didn't care (about himself).
"He didn't think twice as to what was going to happen.
"I just remember him saying 'Bernard, I have to save her, I'm going to save her'."
Bernard revealed how Jimi told him to stay on the bank and call the police because he couldn't swim.
A few moments later he heard his friend crying out for help.
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He said: "I couldn't see him anywhere. But all I could hear him was shouting my name, shouting my name.
"But the shout wasn't normal it was pain."
Bernard described his pal as a "neighbourhood hero" and said: "To risk your life in such a way, you don't see that every day."
And he recalled their last conversations before the incident, saying they had spoken about looking after their families and Jimi told him he loved him.
He said: "They (our conversations) were just always about family, loved ones, what we have to do for them to make sure that they're OK."
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He added: "We started joking around and I just remember Jimi looking at me like 'Bernard, you know I love you, right?'
"And I was like 'Bro, I know you do, man'."
Jimi plunged into the icy river to save the stranger as he made his way home from work.
Another man jumped in with him and while both the second rescuer and the woman were saved Jimi was swept to his death with his body tragically found six hours later.
Pal breaks down in tears as he reveals moment hero who died trying to rescue woman from Thames vowed 'I have to save her' as he jumped in
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A campaign has been launched for Jimi to be awarded the St George's Cross and a has so far raised over £100,000.
Susanna backed the campaign on air today and told viewers Jimi should be received the posthumous honour, adding: "Jimi was a hero. He deserves to be honoured in that way."
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As a heartbreaking video of Jimi dancing on TikTok aired, Susanna stopped speaking as her voice cracked, added: "That was Jimi with all his life force.
"That's how you want us to remember him."
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