Former Blues striker Dalian Atkinson, who died after being Tasered by police yesterday, was “not in his right mind” and was threatening to kill his father, his brother Kenroy has said.

At the time of his death, after going into cardiac arrest in an ambulance while being taken to hospital, Atkinson, 48, was suffering from health problems, including a weak heart and had undergone dialysis for kidney failure.

"My brother had lost it. He was in a manic state and depressed - out of his mind and ranting. He had a tube in his shoulder for the dialysis and he had ripped it out and was covered in blood," Kenroy Atkinson, 53, told The Sun.

"He got Dad by the throat and said he was going to kill him. He told dad he had already killed me, our brother Paul and sister Elaine and he had come for him. He was not in his right mind. We are all devastated. Our family is heartbroken."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the former Town youth player’s death, including the use of force with officers reported to have used a Taser on a number of occasions and claims that he was kicked while on the ground.

Photo: ITFC

Burnzee1991 added 12:51 - Aug 16 Such a tragedy thoughts are with his family :-(
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Lord_Lucan added 12:54 - Aug 16 This is all tragic.
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bluefeast added 12:56 - Aug 16 Mental health issues are so underestimated. Ultimately its an illness that is or can be severe. Our system fails those in need of help. The fact he was killed simply because he needed help is a huge tragedy. There is no point in saying could the police not have restrained a 48 year old man by other means other than taser by alleged multiple use. Tragic just tragic. RIP.

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Johnhoz added 13:13 - Aug 16 Here is a man who needed help. Just an awful story. Hopefully Dalian is at peace now.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 13:33 - Aug 16 Just sad, I suspect this only serves to highlight the lack of mental health provision in this country and the lack of seriousness with which these issues are taken despite the age we live in. I would suggest we all have had or will have some form of mentalking health issue in our lifetime, often undiagnosed due to the low priority it is still given. Even more so in men who I suspect find it harder to talk about such things. Would be good to see the club supporting a mental health charity in light of recent events and in tribute to the great DA. I know it was when he was at Villa but I'm going to suggest the town faithful get umbrellas out in tribute next home game

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andyitfc added 13:50 - Aug 16 The words 'he told The Sun' probably blown right out of context, they're sick individuals, literally willing to sell stories at anyones expense.
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Ferguson added 14:09 - Aug 16 My heart goes out to his family and friends. I think I heard recently that one in four of us is liable to mental illness at some stage in our lives. It's causes and effects are varied, but with help and support I've known people overcome psychosis. Equally I've known others who couldn't be helped and who were destroyed by it despite everyone's best efforts.. In my experience there's still a stigma and fear attached to mental illness, and to those who suffer from it, and as others have said here and elsewhere diagnosis and treatment is tragically under-resourced - particularly when it affects children and young people. How can we arrange a silence for him before kick off against Norwich ? And if you see a collecting tin for a mental health charity give what you can.

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ArnieM added 14:35 - Aug 16 REST IN PEACE DALIAN. A troubled soul which society has failed.
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Lightningboy added 14:42 - Aug 16 The ironic (if that's the right word for this tragedy) is that tazers are supposedly used because our police don't carry guns...if they'd shot him in the leg with an actual gun he'd still be alive.
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BlueNomad added 14:57 - Aug 16 Lightningboy - you have watched too many westerns if you think the police can go round shooting people in the leg. Tasers are a "less lethal" option and carry a lower level of authority to be deployed. Mental Health services are in disarray. A young person in Essex referred a year ago was usually assessed in 10 days, now it is 18 weeks. That's what government cuts do for you!

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I_AM_GOD added 16:46 - Aug 16 I don't think he was killed simply because of he needed help - the police had to respond to what was in front of them at that moment of time. But it is yet again another reminder to us all that we are failing a large number of people in this country by cutting back service after service, leaving so many people with no where to turn, no one to help them. Tasers are deemed a less lethal option, but it creates a massive shock to the body, and his health would not have allowed him to survive. This is a shocking story and I hope we remember who he was, but also learn from what happened to help stop others suffering. I do not intend to cause offense with my words here, as I have seen the impact of mental issues on a family member myself. They got help but we had to fight for it. It is not just the individual who is affected, but families too.

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dubblue added 17:18 - Aug 16 So sad and tragic. You would like to think his old clubs and the PFA might have been able to help but as already said there is such a stigma about mental illness
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grumpyoldman added 18:30 - Aug 16 Does anybody posting on here know whether Damian had been diagnosed with a mental health problem by professionals, or did something in him just snap, had things happened recently to cause his depression? The police reacted to what was I front of them, if they had known about previous mental problems they may have acted differently. It is a very sad tragic way to lose one of ex-players and we should all take time to remember him in his prime and contemplate the effect it will have on his family not make cheap political points and knock the police.

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Seasider added 20:35 - Aug 16 One thing don't think has been mentioned here is that police have been instructed not to taser the chest as this has caused heart attacks before;no doubt the enquiry and pm will reveal exactly what happened. A tragic result whatever the facts.
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lightingblue added 21:59 - Aug 16 It's a real sad end of life to who was a fantastic footballer and I shall always remember his hat trick against Middlesbrough. I will say it was one of the best hat tricks I've ever had the privilege to watch. Nobody really really knows what was wrong with dalian. We are all guessing he had mental health problems, and if he did it seams as though he didn't get the appropriate help required. Such a shame. It'll be nice for the club along with Sheffield Wednesday and villa to do something to honour him and give his family the relevant support to help with what would be surly a tough time

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MathieandMarshall added 12:59 - Aug 17 do we know if the club are planning a tribute on Sunday prior to kick off? minutes silence or applause?
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grumpyoldman added 18:25 - Aug 17 Seasider as normal on these posts somebody who doesn't know what they are talking about posting crap. Police are trained to aim at the torso, because it is the biggest target with more chance of a direct hit. This is the same reason a firearms officer will not aim at the legs as somebody else suggested they would, more chance of missing a leg and the bullet ricocheting and hitting an innocent bystander

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