Karnell Kelly named after dying in canal pursuit near Notting Hill Carnival

A police watchdog investigation has been launched after 25-year-old Karnell Kelly died following an encounter with officers near the west London event.

By Steve Rowland · AI-assisted production, human-approved (how we work)
Published 5 September 2026 at 01:10 · Updated 5 September 2026 at 01:11

Developing · updated 2 hours ago

We are still following this story and this page updates as more is confirmed.

In brief

What happened

A 25-year-old man named Karnell Kelly died in the hospital after fleeing Metropolitan Police officers and entering a canal near Notting Hill Carnival. Officers had briefly spoken to Mr Kelly before pursuing him down Hormead Road. Police officers and members of the public pulled Mr Kelly from the water and administered first aid, with both Mr Kelly and an officer sustaining injuries in the canal.

Why it matters

The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched a formal probe to independently establish the circumstances leading to Mr Kelly's death following an interaction with police. The incident took place during the carnival's 60th anniversary weekend, which also recorded a record high of 636 arrests and two non-life-threatening knife assaults.

What's next

The IOPC is reviewing officers' body-worn video footage and appealing for witnesses or video recordings to determine how Mr Kelly entered the canal. Specialist police divers were deployed to search that section of the canal, and the Coroner's Service has been notified, though an inquest date has not yet been set.

A 25-year-old man who died after running from police and entering a canal near Notting Hill Carnival has been named as Karnell Kelly.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched a formal investigation into the incident, which occurred near Meanwhile Gardens, off Kensal Road in west London.

According to the watchdog, the encounter began at around 3.20pm when Metropolitan Police officers briefly spoke to Mr Kelly, who was wearing a face covering as he approached the carnival. Mr Kelly ran off immediately after the interaction, prompting officers to pursue him down Hormead Road.

The IOPC established that Mr Kelly subsequently entered the canal. Met officers and members of the public went into the water to pull him out, and officers administered emergency first aid before he was taken to hospital, where he later died.

On Wednesday, 2 September, specialist divers from the Met's Marine Policing Unit searched the area of the canal after it was confirmed that both Mr Kelly and a police officer sustained injuries while in the water.

Amanda Rowe, the IOPC's Director of Engagement, said: "Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Karnell Kelly and everyone affected by his death. We need to independently establish the exact circumstances of this incident given that he has died following an interaction with police officers. We are therefore appealing for anyone who may have witnessed and/or videoed any part of the incident to make contact with our investigators."

Detectives from the watchdog are currently reviewing footage from officers' body-worn video cameras. The Coroner's Service has also been informed, though an inquest opening date has not yet been announced.

The incident took place during the carnival's 60th anniversary weekend, which saw hundreds of thousands of people attend. Across the wider event, the Metropolitan Police recorded a total of 636 arrests—242 on Sunday and 394 on Monday—and reported two knife assaults, neither of which resulted in life-threatening injuries. Police described the overall atmosphere as positive and celebratory.

I'll be following the findings of the IOPC investigation as they develop and will provide updates when more details are established.