The man died on Friday, a week after his head became stuck under a seat’s footrest (Picture: Google)

A man has died after his head became stuck underneath the footrest of an electric recliner seat at a Vue cinema in Birmingham.

The man, who has not been identified, was trying to retrieve his phone after it dropped between the new Gold Class seats at the end of a film at Star City leisure complex.

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An investigation has now been launched by Environmental Health and Vue.

The footrest is believed to have been raised when he went to get the phone, but it went down and trapped his head.


He is believed to have panicked and suffered cardiac arrest as his partner and cinema staff battled to release him.



The foot-rest eventually broke free and he was released and taken to hospital where he died a week later on March 16.

The man is believed to have been trying to get his phone when the footrest crushed his head (Picture: Vue)

A source told Birmingham Live: ‘The man had dropped his phone during the movie viewing and tried to retrieve it from under his seat at the end.

‘The Gold Class seats are electric reclining seats. He bent down to look for his phone. At this point the leg-rest was in an upright position.

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West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed that it was called to reports of a patient in cardiac arrest at Star City on Friday March 9 at 7.06pm.

An ambulance service spokesman said: ‘Crews arrived on scene to find a man in cardiac arrest with bystanders having already commenced CPR.

‘Ambulance staff took over and administered advanced life support, successfully managing to restart the man’s heart.

‘He was then transported to Heartlands Hospital for further treatment.’

Following his death, a spokesman for Vue said: ‘Following an incident which took place on Friday 9 March at our Birmingham cinema, we can confirm that a customer was taken to hospital that evening.

‘We are saddened to learn that he passed away on Friday 16 March.

‘A full investigation into the nature of the incident is ongoing. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family who have our full support and assistance.’

Mark Croxford, Head of Environmental Health at Birmingham City Council said: ‘The City Council’s Environmental Health team were notified of this incident and a Health and Safety investigation has begun.

‘We are unable to comment further at this stage, as the investigation is ongoing.’