Families find dead man in children's playground

The horrified parents and children called for help after an incident on Friday.

Hertfordshire Police confirmed the body was that of a black man, aged in his early 30s, and the death was not being treated as suspicious.

The play area had to be sealed off after the man's body was found in Chater School Playground in Harwoods Road at 2.13pm.

Paramedics were called at 2.21pm and treated the man, who was from west Watford, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said they were called to reports of a man acting suspiciously. On arrival, they found the man with cuts to his throat.

One shaken nearby resident, who did not want to be named, said: "My child goes to the school.

"I am so relieved it is half term. This kind of thing is very frightening.

"Luckily no children are around."

Another resident said: "Police were at the children's play park. My husband saw the body when he drove past."

The play area was sealed off to families, as two PCSOs watched the scene.

Ward councillor Mo Mills: "At the time there were lots of people around. It is terrible someone died there. What was awful is flowers left at the scene were destroyed."

Cllr Jaqtar Dhindsa added: "This was a tragic incident, but I want to make it clear Watford is a very safe to live. I have lived here 45 years. Our sympathy is with the family."

Harwoods Road was closed at the junction with Whippendell Road and a police cordon was in place for a couple of hours.

Two rapid response vehicles, two ambulance crews and a volunteer doctor were called to the playground after a man was found unconscious and not breathing.

Temporary screening was put around the playground.

Sarah Spence-Miller, spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: "The death is not believed to be suspicious and the matter will be referred to the Coroner."

Veolia, Hertfordshire County Council's contractor for parks, attended the scene to clear up.

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