Man British police arrested for being drunk was having an epileptic fit and died just hours later

Cops thought they knew it all. Ignored advice. A man is dead but a piece of paper is the only punishment the cops got

Two police officers have received written warnings after arresting a man they thought was drunk but who had just suffered an epileptic fit and later died in hospital.

Sean Hardy, 30, had called paramedics requesting help but they were unable to get into his flat and phoned for police back up. But when two Pcs arrived at his home in Pinxton, Derbyshire, they thought Mr Hardy was drunk and arrested him for an outstanding offence, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said today.

He was taken to Ripley police station, but by the time he arrived he was unable to stand and the senior custody sergeants ordered him to be taken to hospital.

The two Pcs then drove to nearby Alfreton police station with Mr Hardy so that he could be driven by other officers to hospital. But by the time he eventually reached the hospital he had stopped breathing. He died a few hours later.

Following an investigation by the IPCC, the two officers who attended the first call-out received written warnings. The acting sergeant they spoke to at Ripley and a Pc who joined them for the trip to Alfreton received advice.

IPCC commissioner Amerdeep Somal said: 'From our investigation it appears that Mr Hardy's best chance of surviving was if he had been taken to hospital from his flat. However, from the point when his care was the sole responsibility of the police, there were a number of opportunities to realise that he needed urgent medical care. Sadly these were not taken.

'A number of officers recognised Sean's need for medical treatment. Those directly responsible for him though believed he was acting and, despite the direction of senior officers, did not take him to hospital immediately.

'It was obviously very important for Sean's family to understand if this delay contributed to his death. Our investigation sought expert opinion which concluded that even if he had arrived at hospital sooner it is not certain he would have lived.'

Original report here



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