An official investigation has been launched into a struggle in which a man died and a police officer was injured in an Oxford churchyard.

Police close off SS Mary and John Church

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) travelled to Oxford last night to investigate the death of the 42-year-old man, in SS Mary and John Church, Cowley Road.

An IPCC team, led by senior investigator Peter Orr was sent to Oxford last night and is investigating the death, which happened at about 1pm yesterday.

The man who died has not been named, but is believed to have lived in Surrey. Investigators are awaiting the results of a post mortem.

Thames Valley Police said the man collapsed and died following an altercation in which an officer sustained facial injuries at about 1pm yesterday.

The churchyard was sealed off as IPCC and Thames Valley Police investigators hunted for evidence.

The IPCC said the incident was reported to them as a 'death after police contact' and they did not know if the man had been arrested.

A man who had been with his partner and little boy in the churchyard at the time, witnessed part of the struggle.

He said: "Police stopped some guy who had a bag of beers.

"From what we could see he resisted arrest so the officers restrained him and he looked as though he had a heart attack.

"We walked back later and the police were pumping his chest."

Kieron Scanwell, of East Oxford, said: "I heard a woman screaming, walked around the corner and saw one female and one male police officer with a guy up against a wall.

"He got into an argument with the female police officer and hit her. The male officer held him against the wall and was trying to get him down onto the floor."

"He was about 40 and was quite over weight.

"All of a sudden, after about 20 seconds, I saw them start giving him the kiss of life."

An ambulance was called but paramedics' were not needed because the man was declared dead at the scene.

Nikki Redmond, of the IPCC said: "We were informed about the death of a man following police contact at about 1pm yesterday.

"Our investigators went to assess the incident and they will advise the commissioner on how they think an inquiry should be carried out.

"We are treating it as a death following police contact. We don't know yet if it is an actual death in custody."

Thames Valley Police spokesman Tim Wiseman, said at around 1pm a police officer approached a man in the vicinity of the church.

He said: "An altercation then occurred between the man, the officer and a second police officer.

"The exact circumstances surrounding this incident at this time are unclear, however shortly after an ambulance was called to the churchyard, where the man was pronounced dead.

"As with all such incidents the Thames Valley Police Professional Standards Department have informed the IPCC of the incident."

Deborah Glass, IPCC commissioner responsible for Thames Valley Police, said: "This is a tragic incident.

"The IPCC will now seek to establish the full circumstances of the events that led up to the man's death and the actions of any officers that were involved.

"Our investigation will be a search for the truth and we will aim to complete it as soon as possible."

Anyone who witnessed the incident can contact the IPCC on 0207 1663170.