Man, 44, dies the day after being restrained by police while he was 'unwell and distressed'

A man died in hospital a day after being restrained by officers while he was ‘unwell and distressed’ at a house in London, police today revealed.

The 44-year-old was said to be agitated and in distress during the incident near Turnpike Road Underground station in Haringey, north London, on Thursday. 

He was taken to hospital but died on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.  

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation ‘to establish all of the circumstances’ around the incident.

At 7.35pm on Thursday police were called to a residential address to reports of a loud disturbance.

The man was ‘agitated and in a state of distress’, police said, and had to be restrained by officers while the London Ambulance Service was called. 

Before paramedics arrived the man’s condition rapidly deteriorated and he was treated at the scene by officers until the ambulance team could take over.

The 44-year-old was said to be agitated and in distress during the incident near Turnpike Road Underground station in Haringey, north London, on Thursday

He was brought to a north London hospital in a critical condition and died the next day, police added. The man who called the police did not need hospital treatment.

Detective Chief Superintendent Treena Fleming, in charge of policing for Enfield and Haringey, said: ‘We are all truly saddened by this development, and my thoughts and those of my officers remain with the man’s family.

‘We are fully co-operating with the Independent Office for Police Conduct who are investigating the events of that evening.

‘I would again ask that people do not speculate until this investigation has had as much time as it needs to establish what happened.’

The IOPC said all the police officers involved are being treated as witnesses.

IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: ‘This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with this man’s family and friends and all those affected by his death.

‘When someone dies or is seriously injured following any form of police contact, our role is to establish all of the circumstances surrounding that incident.

The IOPC has launched an investigation ‘to establish all of the circumstances’ around the incident (file image)

‘We have initial accounts from the majority of officers who were at the scene and a witness account from the man who called police to the disturbance.

‘We have also gathered and viewed some of the officers’ body-worn video footage.

‘Our investigation is still in its early stages and we continue to gather evidence to establish what happened.

‘At this stage all of the police officers involved are being treated as witnesses.’

Detective Chief Superintendent Treena Fleming, in charge of policing for Enfield and Haringey, said: ‘We are all truly saddened by this development, and my thoughts and those of my officers remain with the man’s family.

‘We are fully co-operating with the IOPC who are investigating the events of that evening.

‘I would again ask that people do not speculate until this investigation has had as much time as it needs to establish what happened.’

The man is the sixth person to died in police custody, or following police contact, so far this year in England and Wales, according to Inquest figures.