Former drummer with Liverpool indie band Space Andy Parle died suddenly at the weekend, aged 42, it has been announced.
Eyewitnesses said that Parle tripped and fell while trying to run across a road, after leaving a chip shop in Liverpool at around 11.30pm on Saturday. People nearby ran to his assistance and called paramedics, who managed to revive him, but he later died in the Royal Liverpool Hospital. Police say they are treating the death as "unexplained" but confirmed they are not investigating the possibility that Parle died in a road accident or assault.
Andy Parle co-founded Space with frontman Tommy Scott and guitarist Jamie Murphy in 1993. He left the band in 1998 after they completed the recording of their second album, 'Tin Planet'. In his time with the band, he performed on most of their biggest hits, including 'Female Of The Species', 'Neighbourhood' and 'Me And You Versus The World'.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Space's former bassist Dave 'Yorkie' Palmer, who joined the band in 1996, said: "It's the saddest, most tragic end you could have. a brilliant drummer. I think Space he'd had enough commercial success. Space continued to have success after Andy left but the band changed and lost something which Andy had contributed. Even though we had another brilliant drummer there was something about Andy's style which was unique".
A police spokesperson said they are appealing to anyone in the Park Road area around the time of Parle's death, in particular taxi drivers, for whom it is a busy route. A post mortem will be conducted to attempt to determine the cause of death.