An investigation has been opened after an African refugee drowned in Venice's Grand Canal as onlookers watched from nearby boats and filmed him with their phones, according to Independent.co.uk.

Footage shows the man, named as 22-year-old Gambian Pateh Sabally, flailing in the middle of the canal.

At least three life rings were thrown into the water near him, but he did not appear to reach for them, raising speculation he wanted to kill himself.

No one jumped in to help him.

In the video, some bystanders can be heard yelling at the man.