A man has died after reportedly getting his head stuck under a cinema seat.

The victim is said to have become trapped after bending down to retrieve his mobile phone at the end of a movie screening at Vue in Birmingham's Star City complex.

His head became wedged under the electronic footrest of a Gold Class seat, a source told the Birmingham Mail.

The victim's frantic partner and staff battled to release him and he was only freed when the footrest was eventually broken, the newspaper reported.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to reports of a patient in cardiac arrest.


Emergency crews managed to restart the man's heart and he was taken to the city's Heartlands Hospital.

Cinema operator Vue International confirmed the man died on 16 March - a week after the incident.

The company 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."

A health and safety investigation has been launched by Birmingham City Council.