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Injured cell man 'may have lived' Injured cell man 'may have lived'
(1 day later)
A disabled man who suffered a broken back after police pinned him down may have survived if he had been taken to hospital sooner, a jury has ruled. A disabled man who suffered a fractured spine after police pinned him down may have survived if he had been taken to hospital sooner, a jury has ruled.
Four police officers were called to Gareth Bracey's flat in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, after he allegedly tried to commit suicide, an inquest was told.Four police officers were called to Gareth Bracey's flat in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, after he allegedly tried to commit suicide, an inquest was told.
Mr Bracey, 48, who suffered from a back condition, was left in a cell at Barry police station for 20 hours.Mr Bracey, 48, who suffered from a back condition, was left in a cell at Barry police station for 20 hours.
He became paralysed before being moved without a spinal board to hospital.He became paralysed before being moved without a spinal board to hospital.
Police burst into Mr Bracey's home in Meirion Place in the town in April 2004 and arrested him after he allegedly tried to kill himself.Police burst into Mr Bracey's home in Meirion Place in the town in April 2004 and arrested him after he allegedly tried to kill himself.
The inquest jury heard he was arrested for his own safety and taken to the town's police station.The inquest jury heard he was arrested for his own safety and taken to the town's police station.
I had told them about Gareth's back and said he was gentle - he wouldn't harm a fly Jeffrey Bracey, twin brotherI had told them about Gareth's back and said he was gentle - he wouldn't harm a fly Jeffrey Bracey, twin brother
His twin brother Jeffrey told the inquest in Cardiff: "There were four officers on the bed trying to handcuff him - he was screaming at them.His twin brother Jeffrey told the inquest in Cardiff: "There were four officers on the bed trying to handcuff him - he was screaming at them.
"The officers had him pinned to the floor - there were two officers on the top of his body and two officers on his legs."The officers had him pinned to the floor - there were two officers on the top of his body and two officers on his legs.
"I think one had a knee on his neck. Another was sitting on his leg and another was holding his leg."I think one had a knee on his neck. Another was sitting on his leg and another was holding his leg.
"I was shocked at what I was seeing in the bedroom of his flat. Officers had asked me before they went in if he would pose any risk to them."I was shocked at what I was seeing in the bedroom of his flat. Officers had asked me before they went in if he would pose any risk to them.
"I had told them about Gareth's back and said he was gentle - he wouldn't harm a fly.""I had told them about Gareth's back and said he was gentle - he wouldn't harm a fly."
Mr Bracey suffered from ankylosing spondalytis, a condition that had stiffened his spine into the shape of a question mark.Mr Bracey suffered from ankylosing spondalytis, a condition that had stiffened his spine into the shape of a question mark.
'Accountable''Accountable'
A jury delivered a unanimous narrative verdict, saying Mr Bracey would have survived if his paralysis had been recognised sooner.A jury delivered a unanimous narrative verdict, saying Mr Bracey would have survived if his paralysis had been recognised sooner.
The verdict read: "Gareth's spine was fractured during a police search.The verdict read: "Gareth's spine was fractured during a police search.
"Paramedics who collected him from the police station were not made aware that he had lost the use of his legs."Paramedics who collected him from the police station were not made aware that he had lost the use of his legs.
"The injury to his spine was not detected until he had a scan - but by that time he had lost the use of his arms."The injury to his spine was not detected until he had a scan - but by that time he had lost the use of his arms.
"Earlier immobilisation would have prevented his death.""Earlier immobilisation would have prevented his death."
Jeffrey Bracey, now 50, said after the verdict that nobody had been held accountable for his brother's death.Jeffrey Bracey, now 50, said after the verdict that nobody had been held accountable for his brother's death.
"I told them he was disabled but the police knelt on his neck."I told them he was disabled but the police knelt on his neck.
"Gareth died as a direct result of the way he was handled during his arrest."Gareth died as a direct result of the way he was handled during his arrest.
"I told the police about his back, but when he got to the police station nobody was told."I told the police about his back, but when he got to the police station nobody was told.
"He was badly treated on arrest and neglected at the police station.""He was badly treated on arrest and neglected at the police station."