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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kelly-Ann Mills

Staff at Pontins holiday camp held dad by the neck for 11 minutes before he died

Harrowing CCTV has shown how a dad-of-three was held face down by security staff at a holiday camp for 11 minutes before he died.

The previously unseen black and white footage showed Paul Reynolds struggling to breath after being tackled to the floor and restrained by Pontins security staff.

Mr Reynolds, 38 was involved in an argument with other guests in the ballroom at Pontins in Pakefield, Lowestoft.

An inquest this week heard how Mr Reynolds was restrained faced down by the neck for around 11 minutes.

He was later arrested on suspicion of assault but fell ill in a police van and died in hospital two days later, on February 16, 2017.

The medical cause of his death was recorded as “complications arising from restraint of an intoxicated, obese individual in a prone position through compression of the neck and a potential obstruction of the upper airway”.

A coroner yesterday ruled that Mr Reynolds had died as a result of a 'deliberate and unlawful act'.

Paul Reynolds was restrained for 11 minutes (SWNS)

The inquest jury also found Mr Reynolds had not been physically violent before his death and the restraint was "dangerous, excessive and inappropriate".

Mr Reynolds, from Colchester, Essex, had been staying at the holiday camp with partner Carrie Bennett when a row erupted between them and another family.

Ms Bennett had accused another child of hitting her son, the inquest heard.

Mr Reynolds and his partner Carrie Bennett (East Anglia News Service)

Two Suffolk Police officers face a gross incompetency hearing following an investigation into the incident by police watchdogs.

The inquest found that police officers failed to obtain medical attention for Mr Reynolds after finding him unresponsive at the resort.

Both the officers and two Pontins security staff have faced criminal investigation but the Crown Prosecution Service concluded there was insufficient evidence for criminal charges.

Carrie Bennett, Paul Reynolds partner and mother of their children said in a statement released to the Mirror by her solicitors that she was relieved the jury had reached such verdict.

She said: "After four years of anguish it is with huge relief and gratitude to this jury that the family and friends of Paul can finally see that the truth has come out, of how he met his death.

"Paul was our big, loveable, larger than life gentle giant. Paul was a loving man and a doting father."

The Mirror has contacted Pontins for comment.

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