A MAN died after being arrested by police at a Canvey marina.

The 31-year-old man, who has not been named, was being escorted by two officers when he fell in the mud at the Marina in Smallgains Creek off Smallgains Avenue.

Paramedics rushed to the scene at around 12:38am on Sunday following reports the man was unconscious and fitting at the site.

Ambulance crews transferred him to Basildon Hospital at around 1:43am but unfortunately he was pronounced dead.

An investigation has now been launched by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A spokesman for the police watchdog said: “We have begun an investigation into an incident in which a 31-year-old man died after being arrested by Essex Police.

“The man was arrested in Canvey Island in the early hours of Sunday, February 17, reportedly in relation to an outstanding fine.

“At this stage we know that the man was being escorted by two officers when he fell. An ambulance attended and took the man to Basildon General Hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead.

“The man's next of kin have been informed and a post mortem took place yesterday.

“The incident was referred to the IPCC by Essex Police in the early hours of Sunday 17 and police and an IPCC investigator was sent to the scene to conduct an assessment. An independent investigation has now begun and further information will be provided as the investigation progresses.”

Other people at the marina said they were told the arrest was made because of an outstanding council tax bill.

One boatowner on the site, who did not wish to be named, added: “I came down here Sunday and the whole boatyard was cordoned off, I couldn’t get anywhere near it.”