Edson Da Costa was a 25-year-old Black Portuguese man who died on 21 June 2017 after being stopped by police on 15 June in Beckton, London. The unclear circumstances of his death led to protests.[1] In June 2019, an inquest jury found that Da Costa died by misadventure from the consequences of a cardiorespiratory arrest after he placed in his mouth a plastic bag containing 88 wraps of class A drugs. The coroner ruled that there was no "legal or factual basis" for a conclusion that could be critical of the police.[2] An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct concluded that the restraint by officers was necessary and proportionate.
The incident prompted a call for a review of first aid training and advice given to police officers for dealing with a person who is believed to have swallowed items.[3]