Death of man at Atria Watford referred to coroner

There was a huge emergency presence in the town centre on Saturday afternoon after a man suffered serious injuries in Atria Watford around 2.40pm.

Hertfordshire Constabulary says it was reported that the man had fallen from height. He died at the scene.

“There is not believed to have been any third party involvement in the incident and it will be referred to the coroner,” a police spokesperson said.

The man’s next of kin have been informed, police added.

A spokesperson from Atria Watford, who confirmed on Sunday that the inicdent occurred in the shopping centre, said: "Local police are now investigating so it would be inappropriate to comment further other than to say our thoughts are with the individual's family and friends at this very difficult time."

Emergency services in Watford town centre on Saturday afternoon. Credit: Ashley Hazelwood

Numerous police vehicles and ambulances were parked up outside one of the entrances to Atria Watford, opposite McDonald's, on Saturday, while shoppers said parts of the area were cordoned off including sections of the shopping centre.

Joining police and paramedics at the scene were forensic officers who reportedly remained in Watford until past 7pm.

One shopper told the Observer how the public were kept away from the shopping centre, which recently changed its name from intu Watford, as emergency services began arriving.

They said: "I was about to leave M&S to go into the (shopping) centre when a bunch of security and M&S staff rushed around looking shocked.

"They stopped people leaving that exit and said we needed to leave by the exit onto the street. An M&S first aider was being ushered to the front of the store clutching a first aid bag.

"I left M&S by the rear exit and an ambulance was just arriving with an unmarked police car with its lights on escorting it in. There were already three other police cars and a police van present at this point.

"I popped into Tesco and came out less than ten minutes later to the fully cordoned off area, nine police cars, a police van, two ambulances and a paramedic car."