Man arrested over nurse stab death

Jul 26 2010

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a nurse in a hospital car park, police said.

The woman was stabbed to death on Sunday night in the staff car park of Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Lancashire Police said the arrested man was being held in custody. It is understood he is a paramedic who works at the hospital.

A police officer stood guard at the entrance to the staff and residents' car park in Whinpark Avenue. One bouquet of flowers had been placed there, bearing a message to the 26-year-old woman which read: "Such a waste of a life RIP."

Two white forensic tents were erected in the car park - one covering two vehicles parked in residents-only spaces and the other directly in front. The car park, situated near a suburban area, was cordoned off.

The nurse was rushed to the Accident and Emergency unit barely 100 yards away but her colleagues were unable to save her. She was named locally as Jane Clough.

A colleague of the dead woman, who lives opposite the car park, said she worked in the Accident and Emergency department where she died. Hospital porter Vaughan Cochrane, 54, of Whinney Heys Road, said: "She worked in A&E. She was always smiling, a really nice girl."

The arrested man is believed to have worked at Blackpool Victoria until recently when he was transferred elsewhere within the health trust. The suspect, of no fixed address, was detained by police at 7.30am on Monday in the village of Barrowford, near Nelson, Lancashire.

In a statement, Marie Thompson, director of nursing and quality at Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We would like to offer our sincerest condolences to the nurse's family, friends and work colleagues at this difficult time."

At this stage police believe the victim may have been known to her attacker, detectives said. Anyone with information should call police on 0845 125 3545 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.