Doctors’ battle to save tasered star

DoCToRS battled in vain for 35 minutes to save former Premier League footballer Dalian Atkinson after he was tasered by police, an inquest heard yesterday.

The 48-year-old ex-Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday striker died in hospital on August 15 after he was allegedly blasted at least three times with the 50,000-volt weapon. officers had been called to the home of Atkinson’s elderly father in Telford, Shropshire, following an altercation.

Atkinson had regular dialysis after suffering kidney failure and his family said he may have had a weakened heart. A post-mortem examination was inconclusive and further tests are being carried out. Two West Mercia Police officers are under criminal investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, a process which the coroner said could take up to nine months.

The inquest was adjourned until November 22.