WITNESSES have described the “devastating” moment police tried to resuscitate a man as he lay on the pavement.
A 78-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of murder after a 49-year-old man died in Storrington yesterday.
Police responded to a report of a man unconscious in High Street, Storrington at 10.05am on Sunday, but he was pronounced dead.
Workers and residents from the area have described witnessing police attempting to save the man.
Skye, 19, a bartender at the nearby The Moon pub, said: “The heart-breaking thing is witnessing police give CPR to someone and then it has not worked – it is not something I wanted to witness.”
“All we heard was sirens and then lots of screaming and shouting.
“Apparently he had a dog with him and that was what it was all over, but we are not sure, we have had multiple people come in here today and say a different story.”
Meanwhile, Ricky Mercer, 32, a landscape gardener, who has lived Storrington all his life, said he feared he knew the man who died.
“It was a legend of the village that died today, I’m devastated about it,” he said.
“I’m sure it was a man that’s lived in this village all his life. Born and bred village man, he didn’t deserve it.
“It’s devastating, we don’t expect it to happen, especially not in Storrington – a peaceful little village.
“We are all heartbroken.”
Police have not yet confirmed the man’s identity, but said his family is being supported by specialist officers.
The force confirmed yesterday there was no wider danger to the community.
Another man, who would not give his name, said: “I walked to get myself some cigarettes and saw as they were trying to resuscitate him. ”
Just before 4pm on Sunday, Andrew Griffith, Tory MP for Arundel and South Downs, tweeted: “As the local member of parliament, I am in touch with Sussex Police about the incident.
“They are at the scene and the investigation is ongoing and being overseen at the most senior levels.
“Important they are allowed to quickly establish the facts.”
Anyone with information which could help detectives with their investigation is asked to report it online or call 101 quoting Operation Kingscross.
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