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Tasered footballer inquest to open

An inquest is to open into the death of former footballer Dalian Atkinson, who was Tasered by police.

Mr Atkinson, 48, died 90 minutes after the weapon was deployed by West Mercia Police in the street where he grew up in Telford, Shropshire, on 15 August.

The former Ipswich Town and Aston Villa striker went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The coroner is due to open the inquest at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury later.

The death was referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which said it would carry out "a full and thorough" inquiry.