A major police cordon has been erected around St Mary's Cathedral in Newcastle city centre after a collapsed man was discovered.
Police vans, vehicles and officers were in attendance at the scene opposite Newcastle Central Station .
The cordon spans the area near the statue of Cardinal Basil Hulme.
North East Ambulance Service staff say they were called to reports of a cardiac arrest. One person was taken to hospital.
Chief Inspector Dave Morrison, of Northumbria Police , said there was no evidence of an assault at this time.
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He told ChronicleLive: "We received a report from a member of the public of a collapsed male in the St Mary's Cathedral area.
"Northumbria Police and British Transport Police attended and gave immediate first aid to the collapsed man, who has been taken to hospital for further treatment.
"At the moment there's no indication that he's been assaulted although the cause of his collapse is currently unknown.
"We are currently speaking to witnesses and there is a scene in place which is cordoned off."
Chief Inspector Morrison said the cordon was likely to be in place for several hours while enquiries are carried out.
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