Footballer Dies After Being Shot With Police Taser

A former Aston Villa striker has died after he was Tasered by police.

The 48-year-old, named locally as Dalian Atkinson, died around 90 minutes after he was hit by a stun gun in Meadow Close in the Trench area of Telford, Shropshire, at around 1.30am on Monday.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I had known him since he was a little boy, he was a famous footballer at one time. He was friendly, he had no trouble that I know of.’

West Mercia Police said officers were called amid concerns ‘for the safety of an individual’ and deployed Taser.

Mr Atkinson’s father, thought to be in his 80s, lives in Meadow Close and the footballer was believed to have been visiting him when police were called.

Neighbours said the retired star, who drives a Porsche, was well-known among people in the street, making frequent visits to the short cul-de-sac.

Speaking at a cordon set up by police to prevent people entering the street, local residents Matthew and Tina Bothwell said they were deeply shocked at Mr Atkinson’s death.

Mr Bothwell, 43, told reporters: ‘Every time he would come he would have crowds around him. It’s close-knit community.

‘I just can’t bear to think what his family are going through.’

Mrs Bothwell added: ‘He was loving, caring and got on with everybody in the street. He always got on with the kids because they absolutely loved his car.’

Local resident Paula Quinn said Mr Atkinson appeared to be ‘almost staggering’ in the street before he was Tasered.

Miss Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat above a barber’s shop, claimed Mr Atkinson went down ‘like a lead balloon’ after being hit by the Taser.

The witness added: ‘I heard shouting and something smashing, which is what alerted me to look out of the window.

‘I am feeling a bit sick knowing that the poor lad has passed. I don’t care what anybody has done. Nobody deserves to die as a result of something like that.’