Police 'tried to save' custody man

By Cindi John
BBC News Online community affairs reporter

A doctor who treated a man being restrained by police told an inquest into his death that officers had acted promptly to help after he collapsed.

Roger Sylvester died after being restrained by police

"They showed willing to help and did everything they could to help save Roger Sylvester's life," Dr Deborah Lawton told the hearing in central London.

Mr Sylvester, 30, died in January 1999, eight days after being restrained and handcuffed by eight officers from the London force.

Dr Lawton said that after Mr Sylvester suffered a heart attack one of the officers had given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while another had started chest compressions.

Dr Lawton was one of two doctors on duty at the psychiatric unit at the hospital in Tottenham, north London, where Mr Sylvester was taken on 11 January.

Mr Sylvester was brought in under the terms of the Mental Health Act by police officers who had found him naked and behaving erratically outside his home.

'Belly-down'

Dr Lawton told the inquest at St Pancras Coroner's Court she believed all the officers had acted "appropriately" and she had seen no signs of aggression or anger towards Mr Sylvester.

He was being restrained "belly-down" with his arms cuffed above his head but she had had no concerns about the way he was being handled, she said.

"There were no police officers leaning on his body or neck or being aggressive to him.

"His head was turned towards the side and his airwaves were clear."

After failing to get any coherent responses from the still-struggling Mr Sylvester, Dr Lawton left the room to get a sedative.

She returned after an urgent call from police officers to find him lying limp and motionless.

"I checked if he was breathing or had a pulse but he had neither.

"He had spit and carpet fluff around his mouth," she said.

Mr Sylvester was eventually revived but died eight days later.

The hearing continues.