Liverpool man has cardiac arrest after police use Taser

A 22-year-old man who was shot with a police Taser gun in Liverpool suffered a cardiac arrest.

Merseyside Police said the stun gun was fired at the man following a disturbance outside the Premier Inn on the Albert Dock at 02:50 BST.

The man, from West Derby, was treated by ambulance staff and taken to hospital where his condition is said to be stable.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "A preliminary police investigation is under way and, due to the circumstances, the force has made a mandatory referral to the IPCC."

Police would not confirm details of his injuries, but said his condition had been "serious" at the scene.

Affray arrests

A North West Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the service was called to the scene to "treat a 22-year-old male who had suffered a cardiac arrest".

The man is being treated at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

An IPCC spokesman said the commission was carrying out a preliminary investigation to see if a full investigation was needed.

Four men - three aged 22, 27 and 32 from north Liverpool and one aged 23 from Maryport in Cumbria - were arrested on suspicion of affray during the incident.

The 27-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of a controlled drug and the 22-year-old also on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug.

All four have been released on bail pending further enquiries.