Father dies after Pontins guards pin him to f loor

A FATHER of six died after being restrained by staff at a Pontins holiday camp when he allegedly confronted another parent about his son being bullied, his family claimed yesterday.

Paul Gladwell, 38, was ‘pinned down’ by three security guards, according to his sister, and allegedly carried unconscious to a police van that turned up at the camp in Pakefield, Suffolk.

Officers did not call paramedics immediately and called an ambulance only after they had set off. Mr Gladwell, who was on holiday with his partner Carrie Bennett and their children, died in hospital yesterday morning, around 36 hours after the incident.

Miss Bennett’s sister, Tiazah Rogers, 20, said: ‘He was headbutted by the father of the child and pinned to the floor by security. Police turned up and carried him out of the building into a riot van and said he was “asleep”, when in actual fact he was unconscious.’

Mr Gladwell was taken to James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, where doctors tried to resuscitate him four times, she added.

He was then placed in an induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain. Hours later the decision was taken to turn off his life- support machine after his devastated family were told he had suffered a severe bleed in the skull and was brain dead.

Miss Rogers added: ‘His life Family holiday: Paul Gladwell and partner Carrie Bennett is over, my sister is left even more heartbroken and my nephews are without a father.’

The couple, who have two children together, were staying at the camp for a week and were due to return home to Colchester, Essex, on Saturday. But they allegedly had problems with another family over their two-year- old son Sonny, who has Asperger Syndrome, being bullied. Mr Gladwell also had the condition, which prevented him working

Miss Rogers said: ‘My sister decided enough was enough and the parents needed to be informed. She approached the parents and told them the problem, which is when things began to get heated.’

Mr Gladwell was restrained after becoming involved and was arrested on suspicion of assault when police arrived.

He was being taken to a police station in nearby Great Yarmouth for questioning when officers became concerned about his condition and called for an ambulance.

After treating him, paramedics rushed him to hospital in a critical condition.

The case has been referred by Suffolk Police to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). A spokesman said: ‘As is standard procedure in cases of this nature, the incident has been referred to the IPCC. A full investigation is under way.’

IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts said: ‘Our investigators will be conducting a thorough inquiry into all the circumstances surrounding his interaction with police.’

Mother- of-three Miss Bennett was too upset to comment yesterday. Friends left floral tributes along with messages outside the couple’s front door yesterday.

One, who asked not to be named, said: ‘He was a gentle giant. He had Asperger’s and ADHD and carried around a card so he could show it to people and let them know about his condition.’

Pontins failed to respond to requests for a comment.