Inquest opens into death of bodybuilder who had ‘brief struggle’ with police

An inquest into the death of Craig Clegg has opened close to two years after his death

An inquest has been opened into the death of a bodybuilder who had a “brief struggle” with police. Merseyside police was called to the Southport Road and Mallory Avenue area of Lydiate at around 10.45pm on Monday, September 16, 2024.

Craig Clegg was detained at the scene by officers after they were called over concerns for his safety. It was previously heard in a pre-inquest review in May last year how Mr Clegg had gone “door-to-door in a totally distressed state” before police arrived following nine 999 calls from members of the public.

The then-senior coroner for Sefton St Helens and Knowsley, Julie Goulding, explained how police arrived, and after a “brief struggle”, Mr Cleg was detained.

Referencing a Home Office post-mortem report last year, Ms Goulding said: “After reviewing body worn footage, there is a brief struggle between the officers and Mr Clegg.”

The 49-year-old died later that night.

During a hearing held at Bootle Town Hall this morning, June 3, by area coroner Elizabeth Wheeler, an inquest into Mr Clegg’s death has now been formally opened.

However, conversations continue between interested parties as to when the full inquest can take place. Ms Wheeler adjourned the case until a later date which is yet to be set.

It comes after Ms Goulding noted there was no evidence of kneeling on Mr Clegg or a headlock being used, with the restraint by police not being found to have been a considerable cause of Mr Clegg’s death, Ms Goulding said as she referenced the post-mortem report.

Ms Goulding said: “The evidence shows that police officers worked together to deliver CPR until paramedics arrived.”

Mr Clegg was taken from the scene in Lydiate to Aintree University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The report concluded Mr Clegg’s cause of death was complications of cocaine toxicity.

Ms Wheeler found the death to have been unnatural, prompting the need for an inquest to be held.

Following Mr Clegg’s death, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation due to him being in contact with officers immediately before his death.

The IOPC told the ECHO in January, 2025, it had concluded its investigation into Merseyside Police’s involvement in the death, with Ms Goulding telling the pre-inquest review last year how there were no learnings or improvements identified by the investigator in her report.

All officers engaged with the IOPCs investigation and it was also noted how the use of handcuffs didn’t affect the delivery of CPR when paramedics arrived at the scene.

Asked to comment on the conclusion of the investigation at the beginning of last year, the IOPC declined and stated it would release findings following the inquest into Mr Clegg’s death.

In a statement his family said: “Craig’s family seek a full investigation and hope that all the parties involved including Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service are open to a full exploration of the response to the medical emergency experienced by Craig on the day that he died.”

In 2023, Mr Clegg won the NABBA Over-45s North West bodybuilding competition and regularly competed in amateur bodybuilding competitions.