Tributes pour in for ex-Premier League striker following Taser death

Police revealed a 48-year-old man died in the early hours of Monday morning after they were called to an address in Telford.

Atkinson scored the club’s first ever goal in the Premier League on August 15, 1992, and won the inaugural competition’s goal-of-the-season competition as Villa finished second in the division.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the incident.

They said the man did not respond to medical attention and was pronounced dead at around 3 am.

The incident was automatically referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as it involved a death caused by police officers.

West Midlands Ambulance Service crews called by police arrived to find a man had been Tasered.

Ernest Atkinson, 85, reportedly said that his son was agitated, while neighbour Paula Quinn said the ex-footballer appeared to be “almost staggering” in the street before he was Tasered.

Paramedics said he went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital.

Former Villa boss Ron Atkinson described the news as “an out-and-out tragedy” as he paid tribute to the forward, who also enjoyed spells in Spain and Turkey with Real Sociedad and Fenerbahce.

“He was never a trouble-maker or anything like that and the police had never been round there before – I just can’t understand why this has happened”, said Rose. He was transferred to Sheffield Wednesday for £450,000 in 1989 but despite scoring 10 goals in 38 league games the Owls were relegated and Atkinson was sold to Spanish side Real Sociedad for £1.7million.

A team of investigators from the IPCC have begun a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the death of Dalian Atkinson, 48, in Telford. According to figures from the Home Office (interior ministry), police discharged Tasers 1921 times previous year. “Our thoughts are with Dalian’s family and friends at this tragic time”.

Only 19% (1,921) were actual discharges – down 3% from the previous year – where the weapon was sacked.

One of Atkinson’s former clubs, Sheffield, posted a message of condolence on its Twitter page, and British media outlets widely named him as the dead man.