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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" the police. | A neighbour described seeing the former Aston Villa star, 48, being Tasered after "stumbling towards" the police. |
| Mr Atkinson was treated by paramedics but pronounced dead in hospital at about 03:00. | Mr Atkinson was treated by paramedics but pronounced dead in hospital at about 03:00. |
| Latest updates and reaction | Latest updates and reaction |
| He 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. | He 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. |
| Paramedics said he went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital. The death has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | Paramedics said he went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital. The death has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). |
| His nephew, Fabian Atkinson, said his uncle 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. | |
| "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?" | |
| Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near the Atkinson property in Trench, told the Shropshire Star she had witnessed the Taser being fired after hearing shouting. | Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near the Atkinson property in Trench, told the Shropshire Star she had witnessed the Taser being fired after hearing shouting. |
| "I stuck my head out the window to look out and I saw two police officers shouting at the gentleman and he sort of was stumbling towards them and the police officers warned him they would Taser him, but he just seemed a bit, perhaps, inebriated. | "I stuck my head out the window to look out and I saw two police officers shouting at the gentleman and he sort of was stumbling towards them and the police officers warned him they would Taser him, but he just seemed a bit, perhaps, inebriated. |
| "And because he continued to step forward once or twice - non-threatening - they deployed the Taser," she said. | "And because he continued to step forward once or twice - non-threatening - they deployed the Taser," she said. |
| "As the Taser hit him in the stomach he just went 'doof', down like a lead balloon." | "As the Taser hit him in the stomach he just went 'doof', down like a lead balloon." |
| '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." | |
| 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." |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| "IPCC investigators are at the scene gathering the available information and are attending the post-incident procedures to supervise the recovery of initial evidence." | "IPCC investigators are at the scene gathering the available information and are attending the post-incident procedures to supervise the recovery of initial evidence." |