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 Patrick Linkavicius |
Plea by friend of Big Issue seller in canal tragedy
A FRIEND of a Lithuanian Big Issue seller pulled from the Regent’s Canal four weeks ago has appealed for witnesses to help police with their investigation into his death.
Homeless father-of-two Patrick Linkavicius, 30, had been drinking with acquaintances for some time next to the canal at Hawley Lock before he was found.
A passer-by hauled him out of the water but Mr Linkavicius was unconscious and died the following day at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.
On Thursday police released a photograph of a 21-year-old Polish woman who was seen with Mr Linkavicius before the drowning, which is being treated as suspicious.
Detective Inspector Ian Foster, who is leading the investigation, said Magdalena Zajdel, 21, had not been seen since the tragedy on September 8.
He added: “It’s vital we speak to Magda. We think she’s still in London, probably begging or worse, and most likely with the down-and-out Polish community.
“We have spoken to some other street people who said there was an argument between these two beforehand. We think Patrick was a reasonable swimmer and the water is not more than five feet deep.
“There may be some logical explanation but we want people who saw anything or people who recognise this young lady to come forward.”
Mr Linkavicius’s friend of more than two years, Robin Batheram, begged anyone near the lock at the time of the drowning to come forward.
Mr Batheram, 42, of Gospel Oak, said: “Patrick was known by thousands. He stayed with me for nine months last year before he went to Lithuania to see his family for Christmas. He was a very popular guy who had a smile and no nastiness whatsoever. I always told him to get away from Camden as there are a lot of not very nice people.”
He added that his friend, whose young son and daughter are thought to be living with his mother in Lithuania, could speak at least five languages and was a trained chef. Mr Linkavicius was epileptic and often found a bed for the night at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.
Mr Batheram added: “I’m absolutely devastated by this. It’s tragic that his children are now fatherless.”
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