A male cyclist died while taking part in a charity bike ride yesterday.
The 64-year-old man from Liverpool, was taking part in the Liverpool Chester Liverpool (LCL) Bike Ride on Sunday, July 4, when he collapsed.
Emergency services, including North West Ambulance Service, were called to the scene at around 1.20pm, following reports that a man had fallen ill in Birkenhead tunnel.
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The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Birkenhead tunnel was scheduled to close temporarily during the hours of the bike ride, however, following the incident it was closed by police in the direction of Birkenhead to Liverpool.
LCL organisers changed the route of the bike ride and those taking part were directed to the Woodside Terminal ferry and then guided to the finish at festival village in Exchange Flags.
A Merseyside police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a 64-year-old man sadly died in Queensway tunnel on Sunday 4 July.
"Police and the North West Ambulance service were called around 1.20pm to reports that a man taking part in a charity bike ride had collapsed.
"The man, who is from Liverpool, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
"A file has been prepared for the coroner."
A Merseytravel spokesperson said: "During the annual Liverpool to Chester bike ride on Sunday 4 July, an event operated by Pennine Events and supported by Merseytravel to promote cycling and support local charities, we can confirm a medical emergency involving one of the participants of the event occurred in the Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel.
"Mersey Tunnels Police were part of a multi-agency response to this incident which necessitated the closure of the tunnel beyond the advertised closure times for this event.
"As the medical emergency prevented other cycling participants from entering the Tunnel, we were able to ensure their return to Liverpool using the Mersey Ferries services, whilst other cross-river vehicle traffic was diverted to use the Kingsway (Wallasey) Tunnel."
