The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Police probe greenkeeper’s golf club death
TERROR AS POLICE HUNT FOR CAR ‘STABBING’ ATTACKER
POLICE have launched an investigation following the death of a worker at a Northumberland golf club.
Emergency services attended Burgham Golf Club in Felton, near Alnwick, on Friday afternoon shortly before 2pm.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics and the Great North Air Ambulance, a member of staff of the greenkeeping team in his 60s was found deceased.
Police have confirmed they have launched an investigation into the incident, which they said was a “suspected industrial accident”.
The golf club was closed over the weekend after the man’s death, and a spokesperson said that their thoughts and prayers were with the colleagues, friends and family of the deceased.
A MUM has told of her terror as an intruder smashed his way into her back yard moments after a man was allegedly stabbed as he sat in his car.
The woman was at home with her 12-year-old son in the Chirton area of North Shields yesterday morning when she said she heard a banging noise coming from the back of her property. When she looked out the window she said she realised someone was kicking their gate in.
The mum, who did not want to be named, shouted to her son to get to the front of the house and he phoned police while they both hid from view until the unknown intruder fled. Soon afterwards a police officer came to the woman’s door and told her they were hunting an attacker after a man was stabbed as he sat in his car on a back lane nearby.
The mum said: “I was frantic and scared for our lives as I didn’t know what was going to happen next, my mind assumed his next move would be to break into the house.”
People living on Chirton Green in North Shields awoke to find the back alley behind their home had become a crime scene. A section was cordoned off with police tape, and a white Audi car with a smashed window stood within the cordon. Police say it was reported that a man in his 30s was sat in his car when someone climbed into the vehicle through a back door and attacked him.
The mum, who said she heard someone trying to get into her gate at around 6.50am, said: “I heard banging from the rear of my home, I saw the wood on the back gate moving as if someone was kicking it.”
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “Shortly before 7am we received a report of assault on Chirton Green in the North Shields area. It was reported that the victim, a man in his 30s, was in his stationary vehicle when another man entered through a rear passenger door.
“The victim was then assaulted before the offender got out and began to cause damage to the vehicle. The offender then fled the scene. Emergency services attended and the victim was found to have suffered injuries consistent with being caused by a bladed article.
“He was taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be lifethreatening where he remains in a stable condition. An investigation has been launched by officers to trace the person responsible.”
People living near the scene have also told The Chronicle how they awoke to find police outside.
Ken Herron said friends had discovered the incident had happened after seeing pictures on Facebook and started getting in touch to ask if he was OK.
The 72-year-old said: “At about 6.30am I heard what sounded like a door slamming. When I came out for a look the police woman said someone had been hurt.
“I have seen on Facebook there’s been there’s been a stabbing. All my mates had been asking us if I was OK and they know I live here. I have lived here 30 year and I have never seen a copper here. There was about six or seven cop cars there this morning.”
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I just saw the Audi in the back lane. It is really worrying, I think in this area there is a problem with drugs. I assumed it was something to do with drugs.”
Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call Northumbria Police on 101 quoting log number NP-20240325-0103.