A TOP-LEVEL investigation has been launched after a motorist collapsed and died seconds after he had been interviewed by police.

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is to investigate the death of John Anthony Wilkinson, 59, of Anderson Road, Wilpshire, who died of a heart attack despite frantic efforts to revive him.

He had been stopped in his car by two police officers in Brownhill Road, Blackburn, at 4pm on Saturday.

Mr Wilkinson returned to his vehicle and was about to drive away when he collapsed with a suspected heart attack.

One officer called an ambulance while the other tried to resuscitate him, but Mr Wilkinson was later pronounced dead at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

The matter has been voluntarily referred to the the PCA by Lancashire Police.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We can confirm that a man who was stopped while driving a car in Brownhill Road collapsed and died at the scene. "He had been stopped by police for a routine vehicle check. When officers had made their inquiries and he was about to drive off, he collapsed.

"Police officers and paramedics tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at Blackburn Infirmary."

A spokesman for the PCA said: "Although the man was not arrested, he had been in police care.

"For that reason the coroner agreed to refer to it as a death in police care."

A Blackburn ambulance spokesman said: "Apparently the man, who we believe had had heart bypass surgery in the past, complained of chest pains before suffering a heart attack.

Mr Wilkinson's family declined to comment.

Chief Inspector Neil Walsh has been appointed to conduct the inquiry which will be overseen by PCA member Alan Potts.

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