A 40-year-old football coach stabbed to death on a busy London street has been hailed as a ‘pillar of the community’.
Michael Olatunde Fadayomi – known as Tunde – was knifed after a fight started on the top floor of a busy bus in North West London on Thursday.
Witnesses said Mr Fadayomi’s teenage son – understood to be heading to football training – ‘had some problems on the bus with someone’.
When his father intervened, the confrontation escalated and spilled out onto the pavement.
The son – who has not been named – desperately tried to intervene as his father was repeatedly stabbed before an ambulance arrived.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 5pm, but despite the best efforts of paramedics – and a junior doctor who stepped in to help – Mr Fadayomi died.
Michael Olatunde Fadayomi (pictured) – known as Tunde – was knifed after a fight started on the top floor of a busy bus in North West London on Thursday
Michael Olatunde Fadayomi – known as Tunde – was knifed after a fight started on the top floor of a busy bus in North West London on Thursday. Pictured: Police gathering evidence at the scene on Thursday
Witnesses said Mr Fadayomi’s teenage son – understood to be heading to football training – ‘had some problems on the bus with someone’. Pictured: Police gathering evidence at the scene on Thursday
Police have arrested a 42-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
The victim has been hailed as a ‘pillar of the community’ who was ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’.
Vancessa, a neighbour, told MyLondon: ‘I’m still in shock. A bad word never would come out of his mouth
‘He was always with that little boy – his son – since he was born.
‘He died saving his kid. He’s a football coach. He was a pillar of the community. It really breaks my heart.’
A witness who tried to comfort Mr Fadayomi’s son after the incident – who asked to remain anonymous – added: ‘I was coming from across the road. I saw him on the floor in a pile of blood.
The son – who has not been named – desperately tried to intervene as his father was repeatedly stabbed before an ambulance arrived. Pictured: Police officers at the scene on Thursday
‘It’s the first time I have seen something like that.
‘They were trying to save him. There were four or five people trying to save him.’
They continued: ‘It’s sad, it’s really sad. I saw him and he said “he was my dad” and I gave him a hug. It was horrible.
‘He was on his scooter. He was just running around he just didn’t know what to do.
‘I asked him and he said it was his dad.’
Dental nurse Tracey Dolling, 43, who rushed across the road to help the victim, told The Sun: ‘I did CPR. It’s very, very sad, awful, absolutely devastating.
‘The boy had some problems on the bus with someone, he called his dad, his dad came down and that’s what happened. Murdered.’
Emergency services rushed to the scene (pictured) shortly after 5pm, but despite the best efforts of paramedics – and a junior doctor who stepped in to help – Mr Fadayomi died
Video footage of the incident – shared widely on social media and seen by My London, shows an argument break out between two men on the top floor of the bus before it spilled out onto the street.
Police are calling on people not to share the footage.
Detectives from Specialist Crime are leading the investigation, led by DCI Claire Hine.
Police (pictured at the scene) have arrested a 42-year-old man on suspicion of murder
The victim has been hailed as a ‘pillar of the community’ who was ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’. Pictured: Police at the scene on Thursday
She said: ‘Foremost in our thoughts are the victim and his family, who are coming to terms with his very sudden and violent loss. My specialist officers are providing them with support at this very sad time.
‘At this early stage in our investigation we believe the incident started on a Route 260 bus.
‘It continued out onto the High Road and into a fast food shop in front of a number of horrified onlookers in the street, and on the bus.
‘I know there are videos circulating on social media that feature some incredibly distressing images and I ask that people please refrain from sharing these to avoid causing the victim’s family any more trauma.
‘We’ve spoken to a number of people who have told us what they saw, but there are others who have yet to make contact. I would ask those witnesses to call us, so that we can fully establish the chain of events that has led to a man losing his life in such a horrific way.
‘I’d also like to acknowledge that this incident would no doubt have caused incredible panic and alarm to the people who saw it.
There are resources available via Victim Support that can help you if you need to speak to someone.’
