Man Dies After Escaping Police Van In South Shields

7 July 2014, 05:25 | Updated: 7 July 2014, 05:34

A man's been found dead at the bottom of cliffs in South Shields, moments after escaping from a police vehicle.

He's been named as 26 year old Karl David Carson from Boldon Colliery.

Northumbria Police Assistant Chief Constable Winton Keenen said:

"This is an incredibly tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Mr Carson.

As a matter of course the incident was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and we're co-operating fully with them.

Specialist officers are providing support to the family and I'd like to reassure people that we're working closely with the IPCC to establish the full details of this incident."

Anyone with any information about the incident, or anyone with any concerns, can speak to officers face to face or by ringing 101 ext 69191.

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UPDATED Sunday 6th July 2014

The police watchdog has been informed after a man was found dead at the bottom of cliffs moments after escaping from a police vehicle in South Shields.

Northumbria Police said the man's body was discovered at the bottom of Marsden Grotto cliffs just after 1am this morning.

The force had been called to the area at 12.34am after receiving a report of a group of people fighting in the car park of the Marsden Grotto pub.

They attended and arrested a man in connection with the fight and he was placed inside a police vehicle.

In a statement, police said:
"Officers were in the process of arresting a second man in connection with the disorder when the prisoner inside the police vehicle escaped and ran off from officers.

Enquiries were carried out to locate him and at 1:03am his body was found at the bottom of Marsden Grotto cliffs.''

The air ambulance was called and the man was given CPR treatment by officers until paramedics arrived

Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The area around the cliffs has been cordoned off while an investigation is carried out.

The force confirmed the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission due to the contact between officers and the man before he died.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call police on 101.