Man collapses during court arrest

A man stopped breathing at Hamilton District Court today as he was being arrested for assaulting a police officer.

Police said the 46-year-old Hamilton man punched the police officer in the head in a waiting area outside a courtroom after he had appeared in the dock.

Police and court security staff tried to restrain him but during the struggle he collapsed and stopped breathing.

The man was taken to Waikato Hospital.

Police have launched an internal inquiry into the incident.

The man's condition was not known.

- NZPA