Former Aston Villa footballer tasered to death by police

Dalian Atkinson scored more than 70 goals in his career of 16 years where he represented nine different club

LONDON: Former English premier league striker Dalian Atkinson has died after police fired a high-voltage Taser stun-gun at him, according to media reports on Monday.

West Mercia police said officers were called to "a report for the concern for the safety of an individual" in Telford, central England, in the early hours of Monday and a Taser gun had been deployed.

A 48-year-old man had died after receiving medical attention, police said.

Media reports said Atkinson, 48, whose former clubs included Aston Villa and Spain's Real Sociedad, was the dead man.

Police said they could not comment further as the matter had been referred to the independent police watchdog.

Civil rights groups have spoken of their concern about the increasing use of stun guns and their potential risk.

According to figures from the Home Office (interior ministry), police discharged Tasers 1,921 times last year.

Atkinson was born in 1968, and started his professional career with Ipswich Town in 1985, where he spent two seasons, netted 18 goals in 60 appearances for the club.

He moved to Aston Villa in the year 1991, and spent four seasons at the club, where he scored 23 goals in 85 league appearances for the Villans.