Three Walmart workers have been charged with manslaughter after pinning a customer to the ground until he became unconscious when he fled with a shopping trolley full of DVDs.

Kenneth Wisham, 64, was attacked by Randall Tomko, Crucelis Nunez and Nathan Higgins after he made a run for the door of the Florida store on 7 February, the New York Times reports.

Wisham was running across the store’s parking lot after ditching his trolley of $500 worth of DVDs and is thought to have fallen over his sagging trousers, a police affidavit said.

Ms Nunez, 23, a customer service manager, is then said to have jumped on the customer’s back and hit him a number of times while Mr Tomko, 58, a lost prevention officer, pinned Wisham to the ground face-down.

Mr Higgins, 35, a manager, is said to have rushed from his nearby truck and held Wisham’s ankles. The trio held Wisham in this position until police arrived.

The last words Wisham is believed to have said to the trio is: “I can’t breathe… let me go”.

Lakeland Police Department medical examiner ruled Wisham died from choking from being restrained and had 15 broken ribs.

Walmart has suspended the workers with an internal review underway.