Man dies in Queensway Tunnel during charity bike ride

Merseyside Police has confirmed that a 64-year-old man sadly died in the Queensway tunnel on Sunday 4 July.

The man was taking part in the Liverpool Chester Liverpool (LCL) Bike Ride on Sunday 4 July, when he collapsed in the Birkenhead tunnel.

Police and the North West Ambulance Service were called around 1.20pm to reports that a man taking part in a charity bike ride had collapsed.

A spokesperson from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said, “We sent an ambulance, advance paramedic and a response vehicle to the scene following a 999 call at 13.22 that someone fallen ill in the tunnel.”

A spokesperson for Merseytravel said, “During the annual Liverpool to Chester bike ride on Sunday 4 July, an event operated by Pennine Events and supported by Merseytravel to promote cycling and support local charities, we can confirm a medical emergency involving one of the participants of the event occurred in the Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel.

“Mersey Tunnels Police were part of a multi-agency response to this incident which necessitated the closure of the tunnel beyond the advertised closure times for this event.

“As the medical emergency prevented other cycling participants from entering the Tunnel, we were able to ensure their return to Liverpool using the Mersey Ferries services, whilst other cross-river vehicle traffic was diverted to use the Kingsway (Wallasey) Tunnel.”

The man, who is from Liverpool, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

A file has been prepared for the coroner.