Man in his 60s is stabbed to death in children's adventure playground - suspect arrested

A suspect has been arrested after a man "in his sixties" was stabbed to death in a children's adventure playground in West Sussex.

A murder investigation has been launched after the man, who has not been name by police, was stabbed to death in a park, in Crawley, on Tuesday (28 November).

Paramedics and an air ambulance were called to the scene at around 10.30am where they spent an hour trying to save the man's life.

The man died shortly afterwards and was pronounced dead at the scene, with Sussex Police now appealing for witnesses to the stabbing.

It has not been reported if the man was with a child at the time, or if any children saw the shocking incident.

Police erected a cordon around the Cherry Lane Adventure Playground with a forensic team combing the area nearby in the early stages of their investigation.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said a 22-year-old man, from Crawley, was arrested nearby.

The man was apprehended on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody on Tuesday evening, awaiting interview by detectives.

A spokesman for the constabulary said as the incident unfolded: "Police are investigating an incident at a children's play area in Crawley. At about 10.30am, officers received a report of a stabbing at Cherry Lane adventure playground.

"Shortly afterwards, a man was arrested nearby in connection with the incident.

"The victim, a man believed to be in his 60s, was treated by paramedics for serious injuries but was sadly later pronounced dead. The scene is currently cordoned off while forensics are carried out and police are appealing for any witnesses to contact them."

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out by a pathologist over the next couple of days to establish the exact cause of the man's death.

On the Crawley Borough Council website it states that the adventure park is "perfect for play all year round" for families with children up to 18 years old.

It is not clear if the dead man's family have been informed of his death yet.