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| Dalian Atkinson dies after being Tasered in Telford by police | Dalian Atkinson dies after being Tasered in Telford by police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former footballer Dalian Atkinson has died after being shot with a Taser by police at his father's house. | Former footballer Dalian Atkinson has died after being shot with a Taser by police at his father's house. |
| Police said the weapon was deployed at about 01:30 BST in Telford, Shropshire after officers were called to a report of concern for a man's safety. | Police said the weapon was deployed at about 01:30 BST in Telford, Shropshire after officers were called to a report of concern for a man's safety. |
| A neighbour described seeing the former Aston Villa star, 48, being Tasered after "stumbling towards" police. | |
| Mr Atkinson went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 03:00. | Mr Atkinson went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 03:00. |
| Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near the Atkinson property in Trench, said: "They were shouting and kicking so much all I could hear were the boots hitting him. | Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near the Atkinson property in Trench, said: "They were shouting and kicking so much all I could hear were the boots hitting him. |
| "And then the officer who released the Taser stepped back while the other officer still continued to kick and then I could hear him shout to the other officer that was still kicking, 'Back off, back off, back off.' | "And then the officer who released the Taser stepped back while the other officer still continued to kick and then I could hear him shout to the other officer that was still kicking, 'Back off, back off, back off.' |
| "And then the officer with the Taser asked the gentleman to put his hands behind his back and did so probably two or three times and reactivated the Taser another four or five times after that. " | "And then the officer with the Taser asked the gentleman to put his hands behind his back and did so probably two or three times and reactivated the Taser another four or five times after that. " |
| Paramedics said Mr Atkinson went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital. | Paramedics said Mr Atkinson went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital. |
| The death has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which said it was investigating police contact with Mr Atkinson before his death, as well as "the level and type of force used". | The death has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which said it was investigating police contact with Mr Atkinson before his death, as well as "the level and type of force used". |
| His nephew, Fabian Atkinson, said the former footballer was having dialysis treatment for kidney problems: "And obviously that's inevitably why his heart was weaker. | His nephew, Fabian Atkinson, said the former footballer was having dialysis treatment for kidney problems: "And obviously that's inevitably why his heart was weaker. |
| "They need to, as soon as they deploy a Taser, they need to deploy an ambulance. As soon as, it should be mandatory. | "They need to, as soon as they deploy a Taser, they need to deploy an ambulance. As soon as, it should be mandatory. |
| "Because, how do they know, unnaturally putting volts through a body, how do they know they're going to survive that, eventually, in the long run, that they're not going to need any medical attention?" | "Because, how do they know, unnaturally putting volts through a body, how do they know they're going to survive that, eventually, in the long run, that they're not going to need any medical attention?" |
| Ms Quinn earlier told the Shropshire Star that Mr Atkinson had "seemed a bit, perhaps, inebriated", adding: "As the Taser hit him in the stomach he just went 'doof', down like a lead balloon." | Ms Quinn earlier told the Shropshire Star that Mr Atkinson had "seemed a bit, perhaps, inebriated", adding: "As the Taser hit him in the stomach he just went 'doof', down like a lead balloon." |
| Mr Atkinson is best remembered for scoring the Match of the Day goal of the season in the 1992-93 campaign - the inaugural Premier League season. Memorably, the Villa star dribbled the ball from inside his own half before chipping the Wimbledon keeper from the edge of the area. | Mr Atkinson is best remembered for scoring the Match of the Day goal of the season in the 1992-93 campaign - the inaugural Premier League season. Memorably, the Villa star dribbled the ball from inside his own half before chipping the Wimbledon keeper from the edge of the area. |
| 'On his day he was unplayable' | 'On his day he was unplayable' |
| Ipswich Town, where the footballer started his career, tweeted his death was "terribly sad news". | Ipswich Town, where the footballer started his career, tweeted his death was "terribly sad news". |
| Aston Villa, for whom the striker scored in the club's 3-1 defeat of Manchester United in the 1994 League Cup final, tweeted: "RIP Dalian Atkinson. You'll never be forgotten!" | Aston Villa, for whom the striker scored in the club's 3-1 defeat of Manchester United in the 1994 League Cup final, tweeted: "RIP Dalian Atkinson. You'll never be forgotten!" |
| Villa legend Paul McGrath also tweeted his reaction, describing his former team-mate as a "huge part of the Villa family", while former Villa winger Tony Daley described it as "devastating news". | Villa legend Paul McGrath also tweeted his reaction, describing his former team-mate as a "huge part of the Villa family", while former Villa winger Tony Daley described it as "devastating news". |
| Former manager at Villa and Sheffield Wednesday Ron Atkinson said: "He was popular in the dressing room, had terrific ability and did it in the big games." | Former manager at Villa and Sheffield Wednesday Ron Atkinson said: "He was popular in the dressing room, had terrific ability and did it in the big games." |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service crews called by West Mercia Police arrived to find a man had been Tasered. | West Midlands Ambulance Service crews called by West Mercia Police arrived to find a man had been Tasered. |
| "As he was being conveyed to Princess Royal Hospital, his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest," a spokesman said. | "As he was being conveyed to Princess Royal Hospital, his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest," a spokesman said. |
| "Despite the efforts of the crew and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at hospital, shortly after arrival." | "Despite the efforts of the crew and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at hospital, shortly after arrival." |
| Neighbours Tina and Matthew Bothwell told BBC News their son had heard "a bang and shouting" outside on Sunday night but thought nothing of it. | Neighbours Tina and Matthew Bothwell told BBC News their son had heard "a bang and shouting" outside on Sunday night but thought nothing of it. |
| "We woke up just before seven, and saw all the police outside and police just said it's all cordoned off," Mr Bothwell said. | "We woke up just before seven, and saw all the police outside and police just said it's all cordoned off," Mr Bothwell said. |
| Ms Bothwell said they had been told "someone had been Tasered and passed away". | Ms Bothwell said they had been told "someone had been Tasered and passed away". |
| Mr Bothwell, 43, said the former striker was a popular visitor to the neighbourhood. | Mr Bothwell, 43, said the former striker was a popular visitor to the neighbourhood. |
| He said: "Every time he would come he would have crowds around him. It's a close-knit community. | He said: "Every time he would come he would have crowds around him. It's a close-knit community. |
| "I just can't bear to think what his family are going through." | "I just can't bear to think what his family are going through." |
| In a statement, the IPCC said "a full and thorough investigation" was taking place. | In a statement, the IPCC said "a full and thorough investigation" was taking place. |
| "At this stage the IPCC is aware a Taser was used on the man before he became ill," it said. | "At this stage the IPCC is aware a Taser was used on the man before he became ill," it said. |
| The IPCC also said that since releasing its Taser report covering 2004-2013, it was aware of two inquest verdicts that have found police use of Taser played a significant or material part in a death. | The IPCC also said that since releasing its Taser report covering 2004-2013, it was aware of two inquest verdicts that have found police use of Taser played a significant or material part in a death. |
| It added that it was already investigating four deaths before which a Taser was discharged. | It added that it was already investigating four deaths before which a Taser was discharged. |
| Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Mercia force John Campion said his thoughts were with the former footballer's family. | Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Mercia force John Campion said his thoughts were with the former footballer's family. |
| He added: "It is an important part of my role to hold the police to account. | He added: "It is an important part of my role to hold the police to account. |
| "I want to be absolutely clear and reassure our communities that I will be doing that fairly and proportionately with regard to this incident once the full facts are available." | "I want to be absolutely clear and reassure our communities that I will be doing that fairly and proportionately with regard to this incident once the full facts are available." |