A 16-year-old girl and two boys, aged 14 and 15, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody after a man died following reports of a fight on the Isle of Sheppey
A man who was found dead on the Isle of Sheppey after a “commotion” by the sea was given CPR by a local who rushed over to help, witnesses have claimed.
Emergency services were called to Warden Bay Road shortly after 7pm on Sunday. Police confirmed the man was pronounced dead at the scene next to a caravan park near Warden Bay Beach – where a white forensic tent and cordon was erected. A 16-year-old girl and two boys, aged 14 and 15, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody. Witnesses allege the victim lay with an injury to his head before a local resident attempted to give CPR.
Another local resident said they saw multiple police cars, ambulances and an air ambulance in the area. Police have not yet confirmed the victim’s identity.
One father-of-three, who asked not to be named, said he had seen the victim being chased along the sea path. He said the victim’s face had been injured and that rocks were lying close to his body. A woman who attempted to give him CPR told him she had seen the man being kicked in the face.
The eyewitness said he was alerted to a commotion on the coastal path behind his caravan. “My wife had seen a commotion by the sea wall and called for me to have a look,” he told MailOnline. “I could see the man lying on the floor with people standing around him. There was a woman trying to give him CPR.
“There were rocks lying around him, I don’t know if he’d been hit with any of them but the injuries were all to his face. I checked his body and there was no blood so he hadn’t been stabbed or anything like that. It was obvious to me he was dead and that nobody was going to bring him back. My 11-year-old son was with me, I tried to shield him as best I could and told him to cycle back to the caravan right away.”
Kent Police officers erected a white tent in an area next to a caravan park, just metres from Warden Bay Beach, while a nearby footpath was cordoned off. A police sniffer dog and forensic teams have also been deployed at the scene behind the popular tourist destination.
The eyewitness added: “It’s shaken me up but my real concern is for my son. He shouldn’t have to see that at his age. We only arrived on Friday for two weeks holiday. I don’t know anything about the man who died. He looked to be aged in his early 40s and was wearing a gold chain around his neck.
“It’s awful, this country seems to be getting worse and worse. It’s worrying.” Another witness, who lives nearby, added: “I saw two ambulances and six or seven police cars go past and the air ambulance. I thought it was something serious then.”
Kent Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, and have asked members of the public to call the force on 01622 690690 quoting 10-1384. You can also report anonymously via Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or by completing an online form.
A SECAS spokesperson said: “SECAmb were called shortly after 19:00 yesterday to reports that a man was assaulted near Jetty Road and Warden Bay Road in Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey. Crews attended the scene alongside The Air Ambulance Charity, Kent Surrey Sussex, however sadly, the man died at the scene.”