Holidaymaker was unlawfully killed, coroner finds

Ryan Vincent and his partner Chloe Edwards were staying at Primrose Valley Holiday Park near Filey

A holidaymaker who was restrained on the ground by a security guard at a North Yorkshire caravan park was unlawfully killed, a coroner has concluded.

Ryan Vincent, 22, from Skelton, was staying at Primrose Valley Holiday Park, near Filey, in May 2017.

An inquest at Northallerton Coroners Court heard that security guard Tony Walpole held Mr Vincent face down on the ground for 16 minutes.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it would consider if the findings altered its decision not to bring criminal charges in relation to his death.

The court heard how Mr Walpole and a colleague had been tracking a speeding car being driven around the park on the night of the incident.

They eventually found Mr Vincent in his car, although his family have always maintained he was a victim of mistaken identity, was not drunk and had not been driving dangerously.

It was said that Mr Walpole then took Mr Vincent's car keys from him and told him he was going to call the police.

When Mr Vincent fled, Mr Walpole followed him and tackled him to the ground, where he held him face down, the inquest heard.

Mr Vincent suffered a cardiac arrest and died later in hospital.

Tony Walpole says he only intended to restrain Mr Vincent until the police arrived

Mr Walpole told the hearing he only intended to restrain the holidaymaker until the police arrived.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a man being held on the ground saying "I can't breathe", or words to that effect.

Speaking after the end of the inquest, Mr Vincent's partner, Chloe Edwards, 33, said: "Ryan was love of my life and the father of my son, who was only four months old at the time Ryan was taken from us in such a horrible way.

"It was the first day of our family holiday and it was also my birthday."

Chloe Edwards (centre), pictured with family, described Mr Vincent as the "love of my life"

She continued: "Words can't express the sorrow and deep trauma this has caused us."

Coroner Jonathan Leach said he was satisfied the relevant criteria of both unlawful act and gross negligent manslaughter had been met.

While the exact length of time of the restraint could not be established, the coroner said it was at least 11 minutes, but more probably 16 minutes.

Following the hearing, a spokesperson for the CPS said: "Following the coroner’s verdict of unlawful killing, we will now consider whether any new evidence or information from the inquest alters the original decision not to bring criminal charges."

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