Craig Clegg died shortly after being detained by police
15:49, 21 May 2025Updated 17:36, 21 May 2025
Craig Clegg died after being detained by police
A bodybuilder had a “brief struggle” with police officers shortly before his death, an inquest hearing was told. Merseyside Police officers were called to the Southport Road and Mallory Avenue area of Lydiate at around 10.45pm on Monday, September 16 last year.
Craig Clegg was detained at the scene by Merseyside Police after officers were called over concerns for his safety. During a pre-inquest review held earlier today, May 21, it was heard how Mr Clegg had been “going round, door-to-door, in a totally distressed state” before police arrived at the scene following nine 999 calls from members of the public.
Senior coroner for Sefton, St. Helens and Knowsley, Julie Goulding, said how police arrived and, following a “brief struggle”, Mr Clegg was detained by officers.
Referencing a Home Office post-mortem report, Ms Goulding said: “After reviewing body worn footage, there is a brief struggle between the officers and Mr Clegg.”
It also noted how there was no evidence of kneeling on Mr Clegg or a headlock being used, with the restraint by police not being found to have been a considerable cause of Mr Clegg’s death, Ms Goulding said as she referenced the post-mortem report.
Ms Goulding said: “The evidence shows that police officers worked together to deliver CPR until paramedics arrived.”
Mr Clegg was taken from the scene in Lydiate to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The report concluded Mr Clegg’s cause of death was complications of cocaine toxicity.
Police at the scene on Mallory Avenue in Lydiate(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Following Mr Clegg’s death, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation due to him being in contact with police immediately before his death.
The IOPC told the ECHO in January this year, it had concluded its investigation into Merseyside Police’s involvement in the death, with Ms Goulding telling the pre-inquest review how there were no learnings or improvements identified by the investigator in her report.
All officers engaged with the IOPCs investigation and also noted how the use of handcuffs didn’t affect the delivery of CPR when paramedics arrived at the scene.
When asked to comment on the conclusion of the investigation earlier this year, the IOPC declined and stated it would release findings following the inquest into Mr Clegg’s death.
In a statement his family said: “Craig’s family seek a full investigation and hope that all the parties involved including Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service are open to a full exploration of the response to the medical emergency experienced by Craig on the day that he died.”
In 2023, Mr Clegg won the NABBA Over-45s North West bodybuilding competition and regularly competed in amateur bodybuilding competitions.
No date was set during the review, although Ms Goulding did note it is likely to take place before the end of the year.
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