LONDON -- Britains independent police watchdog opened an investigation Monday into the death of a former Premier League soccer player who was shot with a stun gun by police.Dalian Atkinson, 48, went into cardiac arrest on the way to a hospital and died around 90 minutes after officers used a Taser on him, the West Midlands Ambulance Service said in a statement. Officers deployed stun guns after being called to an address in Telford, northwest of Birmingham, involving the safety of an individual, West Mercia Police said.He had some health issues that he was trying to get through and thats why his heart was weak, his nephew Fabian Atkinson said. When a Taser is deployed, as soon as a Taser is deployed, they need to automatically call an ambulance. How do they know the health of the guy or the girl that they are affecting?The case immediately touched off a debate about the use of Tasers in a country where police rarely carry guns.Black people were three times more likely to be involved in Taser incidents than whites from 2011 to 2015, according to Home Office statistics obtained by the BBC in a Freedom of Information request. Atkinson was black.The Independent Police Complaints Commission swiftly moved to take charge of the investigation into Atkinsons death.I would like to assure people that we have begun a full and thorough investigation into police contact with Dalian Atkinson prior to his death, including the level and type of force used, said the IPCCs deputy chair, Rachel Cerfontyne. Our investigation team have been securing and preserving relevant evidence, and identifying witnesses.Three of Atkinsons former clubs -- Aston Villa, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday -- all paid respects in posts on their websites. Englands Football Association said it was saddened to hear of the passing of Atkinson, who represented Englands `B team.Atkinson scored 20 Premier League goals during his time at Villa from 1991-95. He also played for Ipswich, Wednesday and Manchester City in England, and had spells with Real Sociedad in Spain, Fenerbahce in Turkey and also in South Korea.Atkinson was most famous for a scoring a goal for Villa against Wimbledon in October 1992, when he ran from inside his own half, evaded a number of attempted challenges before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. It was voted as goal of the season in the 1992-93 Premier League.Atkinson also scored in the 1994 League Cup final when Villa beat Manchester United 3-1.Aston Villa is saddened to hear of the death of our former striker Dalian Atkinson, the second-tier club said in a statement. Dalian undoubtedly provided real memorable moments during his time in claret and blue.Wednesday said Atkinson was widely regarded as one of the most exciting football talents to emerge during the mid-1980s to early 1990s.In an era when English players seldom played abroad, Atkinson scored 12 goals in 29 league games during one season with Real Sociedad, before returning to England to play for Villa. He scored 10 goals in 21 league games for Istanbul-based Fenerbahce after leaving Villa.---Steve Douglas reported from Manchester. NHL Jerseys Outlet . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. Cheap NHL Jerseys Fast Shipping . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. 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In the first interview he has granted since being dismissed as Oregons football coach, Mark Helfrich said he reached out to former Ducks coach Chip Kelly a couple of weeks ago, when Helfrich thought he could be fired.Helfrich told?ESPN Radios Russillo & Kanell that he contacted Kelly when it started going south for the Ducks and the rumors heated up, in the interest of trying to save his assistants jobs.When you start thinking of your assistants and all the support staff and all those people, if he were to come back here, some of those people would be saved, Helfrich said.Helfrich was fired by Oregon on Tuesday after four seasons with the Ducks. He took Oregon to the first College Football Playoff championship game two seasons ago, but the team faltered this past season, going 4-8 overall and 2-7 in the Pac-12.Kelly reiterated Wednesday that he intends to remain the coach of the?San Francisco 49ers.Many criticized the Ducks news release announcing Helfrichs firing this week, which detailed his four-year tenure in less-than-glowing terms.Among the notes about Helfrich that the release cited, it said the Ducks had to rely on graduate transfers to play quarterback entering the 2015 and 2016 seasons and pointed out how the Ducks went for two after all five of their touchdowns and converted once in their 35-32 loss to Nebraska on Sept. 17.A little disappointing, for sure, but nothing Ill think twice about, Helfrich said of the release. Theres no doubt about the aawkwardness?of all of this.dddddddddddd.Helfrich, who grew up in Oregon and was recruited by the Ducks as a walk-on, was asked whether his dismissal hurt more because it was Oregon that fired him.It would be a lot easier if you were getting fired from wherever else -- LSU, Texas, wherever else that is, he said. Very proud of what we accomplished here. Ive had a million text messages and messages and phone calls and conversations with people around the country, players and coaches that weve been with.Helfrich also spoke about Oregons national status, as well as the rise of the Pac-12, particularly with No. 4 Washington vying for a spot in the College Football Playoff.The uniform thing, quote unquote, has caught on everywhere else. Everybody is doing that in some way, shape or form, Helfrich said of Oregons innovative uniform designs. The facilities, in the conference and nationally, theres an ongoing battle to one up everybody. And theres things out there that people go elsewhere and are equally as wowed as when they came to Eugene. And then I think the conference is a lot different than it was 10 years ago in both of those realms, whether its which teams are up, which teams are down and a very competitive situation everywhere, as far as facilities and a commitment to great football.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '