Photo: Cat Milton; after the madding crowd, Benirras October 2016
Damning Evidence In Luke Rhoden Inquest Doctor; “you are killing him, you have to stop” Police; “I know what I am doing”
An Ibizan Doctor has given damning testimony relating to the circumstances in which Luke Rhoden died whilst under Police arrest in September 2014.
Luke Rhoden, 25, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, was in Ibiza celebrating a stag weekend. Mr Rhoden had been arrested following disturbing behaviour at his hotel, Ibiza Rocks in San Antonio. He died from a cardiac arrest after Police had bound his hands and legs together with plastic ties. Speaking through an interpreter at the UK inquest, the Doctor present on the scene, Dr Akoskin, said: "They were putting a stick to his neck and because he was kicking with his legs they put plastic cuffs on his legs to restrain him. "They put a baton on his neck and I said to them: 'You are asphyxiating him - you are going to kill him.' "They said: 'I know what I am doing' but I say again: 'you are killing him you have to stop'. I said it at least three times. "Those three times he was losing power. I said: 'Stop putting pressure on the neck' but it was too late. "He was lying on the floor thrashing his legs. His heart rate was showing at 160 beats per minute and I told him to stop and be quiet or the police would be more aggressive. "I was saying he needed oxygen but he was quiet like he was dead and there was no reaction. He was like he was losing power, he had no power. He was very strong moving to begin with." Asked how long the baton was pressed against Luke's neck,
Dr Akoskin added: "About 5 minutes. It is very very very dangerous. It is on the artery. "The police officer could hear me very clear when I said: 'You are asphyxiating him'. He turned to me because I was the only person talking to him but he said: 'I know what I am doing.' I have up to 12 people in worse states than this man and they do not die. The inquest continues. Right, The Ibizan reporting on Luke’s death in 2014.