The family of Connor Hitchens, a former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, are concerned about the police response prior to his death. A pre-inquest review heard that police were called to an incident involving Hitchens, but he wasn't found unresponsive until two and a half hours later. The coroner stated the family's concern centers around the police's actions and whether they did enough to preserve Hitchens' life.
The family of a dad and well-known MMA fighter have raised concerns about the police response prior to him being found dead, a pre-inquest review heard. Connor Hitchens, a Cage Warriors Fighting Championship featherweight champion, died in Blackpool on May 16 last year. A pre-inquest review, held today (Thursday January 9) at Blackpool Town Hall, heard that police had been called at just before 6am that morning to an incident involving Connor.
Two and-a-half hours after police were called and Preston-born Connor, 27, was found unresponsive and was later pronounced dead. Blackpool's Senior Coroner Alan Wilson said: 'The family position, essentially, is in relation to the police response and the appropriateness of that with a view to doing what they could to preserve Connor's life. It's all about events on that day. 'Knowing the concerns of the family I took the view that it may be necessary for us to hear from the two police officers who had direct contact with Connor that morning.' As well as the two PCs who had contact with Connor on the morning of May 16 the inquest will also hear from a pathologist as well as Connor's partner Becky Morton who will give evidence relating to the level of aggression he was reported as demonstrating on the day he died. The two police officers will be required to give evidence regarding what they knew about Connor's location on the day he died and their actions in attempting to locate him. The coroner added: 'It was noted that there is a concern that there had been an underestimation of the need to preserve this young man's life and that is linked with what the family feel was an over-exaggeration of the level of aggression that he might present if confronted. 'The police position is that there is some interaction between Connor and police during that timeframe and we didn't reach a stage where they had concrete reliable information about where he was and part of that was due to some reluctance on his part to disclose where he was.' The pre-inquest review also heard that an inspector spoke directly to Connor on the phone during the two and-a-half hour period before he was found unresponsive. Connor's family have also raised concerns about the inspector's level of training in relation to similar incidents. A date is yet to be set for the final inquest, which is expected to last one day. After Connor's death his mum Jo posted online: 'Words can’t describe how much he will be missed, he lit up every room with his smile and infectious laugh. I know that Connor touched many lives and I am devastated to have to break this news. Thank you to everyone who was a good friend to Connor, I am forever grateful for the impact you made on his life.' Kerrith Brown, International Mixed Martial Arts Federation president, said: ''On behalf of the entire International Mixed Martial Arts Federation we are deeply saddened by the passing of Connor Hitchens. “We are forever grateful to Connor for his time on the IMMAF platform and proudly representing the UK national team as a distinguished athlete at the European and World Championships in 2015 and 2016. Our deepest condolences go out to Connor’s family and loved ones.’' Subscribe to our daily newsletter LANCS LIVE NEWS and get all the biggest stories from across Lancashire direct to your inbo
MMA Police Response Death Inquest Blackpool
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