Punch Video Investigated After Teen Found Hanged

A video of a 15-year-old boy being punched to the ground by another teenager a week before he was found hanging in a park near his home is being investigated by police.

Adam Tharia, a student at Bournside School in Cheltenham, died at Bristol Children's Hospital three days after he was found in the town's Benhall Park last month.

The footage, which has been circulated online, reportedly shows the 15-year-old standing in a field, surrounded by other youths.

He appears to brace himself but does not raise his hands in self-defence as he is hit to the face and falls to the ground.

The group around him laughs and the camera closes in on his face as he lies motionless on the ground.

Gloucestershire Police said it was aware of the video.

"Police are investigating all the circumstances of the sad death of 15-year-old Adam Tharia who was found hanging in parkland near to Robert Burns Avenue on 21 May," a spokesman said.

"It would be inappropriate to discuss the specifics of the investigation while it is ongoing.

"We can however confirm that police are in possession of a piece of footage that appears to show Adam being punched by another boy around a week before.

"We are keeping an open mind about what this might tell us, and continue to assess all relevant information.

"We would ask media not to speculate on the background to the footage and to bear in mind family sensitivities at a very difficult time."