Tributes paid to 'gentle giant' killed outside Black Country Wetherspoons

Flowers have been laid by mourners outside the Clifton pub in Bull Ring where 24-year-old Reece Cox died on Saturday night.

Mr Cox lived locally and had a young son. A GoFundMe page set up for his family raised more than £1,000 within two hours of being created.

It is thought he may have been attacked after trying to intervene to help another man who was being beaten up outside the Wetherspoons pub just before midnight.

A family friend, who asked not to be named, described Mr Cox as a 'gentle giant', and said he was attacked trying to protect an elderly man who was being assaulted.

"He was a really nice guy, a gentle giant," he said.

"Some old man was being attacked, and he went to help him."

He said Mr Cox lived in Sedgley and had a four-year-old son.

As well as flowers, a Wolves scarf was also draped over the railings outside the pub.

A message on one bunch of flowers said: "RIP Big Fella, love and thoughts during these sad times, lots of love," while another said Sedgley had lost "a true hero".

The J D Wetherspoon Clifton pub was open again for business today, after being shut while the area was cordoned off and forensic teams examined the area on Sunday. The pub's management have been talking to police.

Meanwhile West Midlands Police has urged people not to share video footage circulating online from Saturday evening but to send any clips to detectives.

One video which has been widely shared appeared to have been filmed from inside the pub and shows a group of men attacking someone on the floor.

Police have not provided an update on the investigation since Sunday evening when no suspects had been arrested.

Taxi rank attack

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said that the man who died was attacked by a group of men shortly after the same group beat somebody else up.

He said none of the people involved had been inside the pub.

“The pub’s CCTV shows a group of males by the taxi rank at the side of the pub attacking another male," Mr Gershon explained.

“The individual managed to get away and ran to the front of the pub where he was let in for his own safety.

“The group then started attacking another male. Once the group dispersed, door staff at the pub went to assist him on the floor putting him in the recovery position.

“We understand that this person died on his way to the hospital.

“No members of the group or the two men who were attacked had been in the pub.

“Police have viewed the CCTV from the pub. We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the individual who passed away.”

Appeal for witnesses

A blue tent was in place on the Bull Ring on Sunday and police taped off the road including the High Street.

Meanwhile detectives are urging anyone who may have information to get in contact.

Det Insp Laura Harrison, of West Midlands Police CID, said: "Our thoughts are with the family of this young man who has sadly lost his life.

“We are in the early stages of our investigations but we understand he may have tried to intervene in a fight when he was fatally injured.

"I believe the community of Sedgley will respond as we appeal for anyone we have not yet spoken with and who may information about what happened last night to get in touch with us."

Temporary Superintendent Jason Anderson, of the Dudley Neighbourhood team said officers would be patrolling the area in the coming days to reassure the local community.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Three ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor attended and arrived to find a man in a critical condition.

"Ambulance staff administered advanced life support on scene but sadly, despite best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead on scene a short time later."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police online, by calling 101 or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting crime number 20DY/194445N/20.