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Mental health medic recalls traumatic discovery of dead Walsall father

A medic wiped away his tears as he recalled the traumatic moment he tried to ‘rescue’ his unresponsive patient left restrained in a psychiatric room, a misconduct panel has heard.

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Kinglsey Burrell died in 2011

Todd Nyamhunga became emotional, removing his glasses to rub his eyes, when he recollected discovering Kingsley Burrell foaming at the mouth after suffering a fatal cardiac arrest.

He revealed to a police hearing how he carries painful memories of the tragedy, with the Walsall father-of-three’s death still having a ‘significant’ impact on him more than seven years on.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Nyamhunga said: “I did not know him before but I had know him from admission as a human being, as my patient.

“I think about it most of the time. It’s my belief that nobody knew the outcome would end up being what it was.

“I can imagine, for the family, it must be quite heavy.”

Pcs Paul Adey, Mark Fannan and Paul Greenfield deny wrongdoing and claim they did not use 'excessive' force when restraining Mr Burrell before his death or that they lied during Mr Burrell’s inquest in 2015.

Sectioned

Mr Nyamhunga was deputy ward manager at Birmingham’s Mary Seacole unit when Mr Burrell was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and escorted into the facility restrained by at least two police officers.

The 29-year-old patient had marks on his head and wrists, was crying, screaming and appeared very angry when he arrived on March 27, 2011.

He told the hearing at Sutton Coldfield Police Station: “He was distressed and he was complaining about the handcuffs. He was uncomfortable and alleging he had been beaten.”

But three days later medical staff called police after Mr Burrell threatened to kill them, brandishing a toothbrush.

He was transferred in handcuffs, leg restraints and allegedly with an item covering his face to a seclusion room at the city's Oleaster facility.

Mr Nyamhunga said he later went into the seclusion room after officers had left, adding: "His face was turned to one side, his eyes were closed and I saw froth dribbling from his mouth."

Officers are alleged to have used force against Mr Burrell, including punching him, placing hands around his jawline to push it up, kneeling on him and holding him down by his shoulder and leg.

All three officers deny they breached standards of professional behaviour by providing a dishonest and misleading account during interview, that they never sought to correct that account and repeated that dishonest account during inquest.

They also deny they used force which was inappropriate, unnecessary, and excessive.

The hearing continues.

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