53-year-old victim of St Annes takeaway attack dies in hospital

A man who was found unconscious outside a takeaway in St Annes has died in hospital, police have confirmed.
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John McQueen, 53, from St Annes, was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital after he was found unconscious with head injuries outside Atlas takeaway in St David’s Road South at around 10pm on Saturday (December 12).

He left hospital later that night but was found collapsed just hours later, at around 3am on Sunday morning, close to a petrol station in Talbot Road, Blackpool.

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He was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment but died yesterday (Tuesday, December 15).

John McQueen, 53, from St Annes, was found unconscious with head injuries outside Atlas takeaway in St David’s Road South, St Annes at around 10pm on Saturday (December 12). He died in Preston Royal Hospital yesterday (Tuesday, December 15). Pic: Lancashire PoliceJohn McQueen, 53, from St Annes, was found unconscious with head injuries outside Atlas takeaway in St David’s Road South, St Annes at around 10pm on Saturday (December 12). He died in Preston Royal Hospital yesterday (Tuesday, December 15). Pic: Lancashire Police
John McQueen, 53, from St Annes, was found unconscious with head injuries outside Atlas takeaway in St David’s Road South, St Annes at around 10pm on Saturday (December 12). He died in Preston Royal Hospital yesterday (Tuesday, December 15). Pic: Lancashire Police

Lancashire Police said a Home Office post mortem examination to establish a cause of death will take place in due course.

Police enquiries suggest Mr McQueen was attacked by two men who got out of a black car and assaulted him close to the Atlas takeaway in St Annes.

The force said an investigation is ongoing to find the attackers and detectives are appealing for witnesses to help piece together Mr McQueen’s final movements.

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Det Ch Insp Jane Webb, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: "This is very sad and upsetting news and my thoughts are with Mr McQueen’s family at this time.

"We are keeping an open mind about the nature of the investigation and are looking to piece together Mr McQueen’s final movements.

"We know he was assaulted close to the takeaway and we continue to appeal to anyone who saw what happened or who has any information to contact us so we can identify and trace those responsible.

"We would also like to speak to anyone who saw the victim after he left the hospital and before he was subsequently found collapsed on Talbot Road.

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"Mr McQueen was wearing a grey vest with white writing on, underneath a black tracksuit top. He was also wearing black, possibly khaki tracksuit pants.

"Any information, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant, could be crucial to our investigation."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log 1492 of December 12.

Alternatively you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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