Park death horror
Police are treating death as ‘suspicious’
A man has died following a disturbance in a Strathaven park yesterday.
Emergency services rushed to the John Hastie Park at 1.30pm.
It’s believed the victim was stabbed. Police say they are treating his death as “suspicious”.
A shocked eyewitness said at least seven police cars raced to the park and descended on the entrance near Strathaven Rankin Church.
An ambulance was also quickly on the scene and parked up in the centre of the nearby football pitches.
The area around the pitches was cordoned off by cops while investigations were carried out.
The man, who has not yet been named, died at the scene despite attempts by paramedics to save him.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers were called to reports of a disturbance within the John Hastie Park in which a man was seriously injured.
“The ambulance service attended but the man died at the scene.
“A post-mortem will take place in due course but police are treating the death as suspicious and enquiries are ongoing.”
Avondale and Stonehouse councillor Margaret Cooper expressed her sympathies for the family of the man.
She said: “It’s a really uncommon incident for Strathaven Park and it will shock a lot of people locally.
“It’s a well-used park that people will travel from all over to go to. A lot of families with young children and dog walkers and community groups like ramblers use the park every day. My thoughts are with the man’s family.”