Ex-Premier League player dies after police taser

LONDON

An ex-Premier League footballer died Monday morning after being tasered, British police said in a statement.

Dalian Atkinson, 48 was pronounced dead at 3.00 a.m. (0200GMT), West Mercia Police said in a web statement.

“West Mercia Police can confirm that officers responded to a report for the concern for the safety of an individual... upon arrival Taser was deployed and a 48 year-old man... was pronounced dead at approximately 3 am,” it said.

Atkinson played for Aston Villa and Manchester City in the Premier League.

He also played for Turkish side Fenerbahce between 1995 and 1997.

The statement also said the incident has now been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).