VANCOUVER - One man is dead and six officers were sent to hospital following an altercation in Vancouver on Thursday afternoon.

Vancouver police say officers responded to a call of a distraught man causing a disturbance in the city's southeast end at around 2:30 p.m.

Sgt. Randy Fincham says the man became agitated as the first officer on the scene tried to detain him and additional officers were called.

He says police unsuccessfully tried to subdue him with chemical agents and a physical altercation ensued, causing fatal injuries to the man.

Fincham says two officers suffered significant injuries, four officers had minor injuries, and all have since been released from hospital.

British Columbia's police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office, is now investigating.