The devastated girlfriend of a young man who died trying to save a woman from the Thames paid tribute to him at his funeral and said: "Until we meet again".
Folajimi Olubunmi Adewole, 20 and also known as Jimi, died last month as he jumped into the river to help a woman who had fallen off London Bridge.
Speaking during the funeral, which saw a virtual attendance of more than 1,700 people, his girlfriend broke down as she told him "thank you for being my strength".
In the service held at Bestway International Christian Centre in Camberwell tributes were also heard from Jimi's friends and family.
Jimi's pastor Olu Afuape led the service encouraging the congregation that this was "goodnight not goodbye", MyLondon reports.
Jimi's girlfriend described the moment when she knew she had fallen in love with the 20-year-old, while thanking him for being by her side when her dad passed just three months before he did.
She said: “I’m glad I got to spend his last chapter with him because he brought me so much joy and happiness into my life.
“I remember the day I fell in love with Jimi when he told me how to make pounded yams, to add oil so it doesn't stick to my hands. It was little things like that and the way he loved others especially his mum, dad and brothers.
“[Just before his death] Jimi came to my university. We weren't on good terms but he insisted to see me, he was so adamant. When he came he was so happy I was confused as to what was going on.
“But he just said he wanted to be there and hold me that night... It was almost like God sent Jimi to hold me that night because he knew I would be alone when I found out the news.
“Thank you for being there for me Jimi, thank you for being my strength.”
Addressing his parents, she said: “Thank you for raising a beautiful, honest man.
“I know you are in heaven, I know in my heart I can feel it. Until we meet again.”
Jimi's former maths teacher at Harris Academy Peckham also paid tribute to her former student.
She said: "Students like Jimi are the reason I wake up every morning to be a teacher."
"I was proud of him then, and I’m even more proud now... The last conversation I had with him he said ‘Miss, I’m going to be alright, you’ll see’.
"Folajimi changed the narrative around young black men... I’m confident in knowing that he is above smiling at us. I’m proud to call him my student, thank you mummy and daddy for sharing your son with us."
Jimi's parents Michael Adewola, 63, and Olasunkanmi Adewole, 54, sat in the front row in the service limited to 30 people due to coronavirus restrictions.
The hero's older brother Deji also paid tribute to him as he jokingly called him the "better looking brother."
Jimi's former football coach, Paul Robinson was in tears as he gave an emotional tribute to Jimi saying he would "transform" training sessions with his character but on a "cold, wet winter morning he would rather be at home with his mum."
Jimi's parents have called for Jimi to be honoured with an award for his bravery, a call Dua Lipa backed whilst accepting an award at the Brit Awards on Tuesday night.
