Staff at nightclub where footballer, 23, was stabbed to death cleaned up drug-littered dancefloor

Staff at a nightclub where a footballer was fatally stabbed on Boxing Day began to clean up the drug-littered dancefloor while paramedics battled to save his life, police have said.

Cody Fisher, 23, died while ‘enjoying a night out with friends’ at Crane nightclub in Adderley Street in Digbeth. 

Officers were called just before 11.45pm and Mr Fisher was declared dead 30 minutes later.

In evidence which will be submitted to a hearing to review the venue’s license tomorrow, Superintendent Sally Simpson described the scene as ‘chaos’. 

In her statement, she said officers noted evidence of drug taking inside with ‘hundreds’ of small bags and empty nitrous oxide cannisters on the floor.

She said: ‘Officers who originally attended the premise described a scene in chaos and evidence of drugs use within the premise.

‘On entry to the premises officers were asked by security to help with crowd control, which they said no, and ran in to commence CPR and assist the paramedics on the scene.

‘On body-worn you will see staff wandering around all over the place like they’re oblivious to what is happening.

‘Further to this, they have started to clean the dancefloor further down from where the deceased was, officers shouted at them to stop.

‘Whilst officers are doing CPR, you can see people just wandering around in the scene freely.

‘As soon as we had more officers at the scene they were removed and the whole dancefloor was cordoned off and the area was made sterile.

‘There were hundreds of small drug bags and nitrous oxide canisters all over the floor. These included the small and very large nitrous oxide canisters with balloons.

‘West Midlands Police are concerned as to how a knife has been able to get inside the premises.

‘Any control measures the premises may have had were found ineffective.

‘This is compounded by the fact officers have seen evidence of drug use within the venue, which was openly on the dance floor.

‘Also, the chaos noted by officers, with staff seemingly having no idea how to manage the situation or preserve the scene, again pointing towards lack or poor control measures and training.’

It comes after a third man was arrested on suspicion of murder as police reveal they’ve now recovered a knife as part of their investigation.

At about 3am on Thursday, detectives arrested a 22-year-old suspect in London. He will now be questioned over the footballer’s death.

He is the third arrested on suspicion of murder, while four others have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police yesterday said a 22-year-old was held at an address in the city centre and a 21-year-old man was detained in London. 

A knife has been recovered as part of the investigation, and a post-mortem has confirmed that Mr Fisher died of a stab wound, West Midlands Police said.

The force has also lodged a request to review of Crane’s operating licence with Birmingham City Council, and a hearing to pursue this will be held on Friday.

Licensing officers will ask for immediate measures to be implemented to ensure public safety, and the venue has cancelled a scheduled on New Year’s Eve.

A spokesperson for Crane said: ‘An expedited review of a premises licence is normal whenever any serious crime takes place at a licensed premises, and we are cooperating fully. 

‘Whilst it would be wrong for us at this stage to react to individual, anecdotal accounts of the circumstances that applied on Boxing Day, we do employ extensive and professional security procedures for all public events, and our contracted security staff are professionals who are licensed by the SIA.’

‘But we will of course be conducting a full and detailed review in light of this week’s tragedy.’

Video from inside the club taken before the stabbing shows hundreds of revellers enjoying the music amid flashing lights. 

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Ingram, leading the investigation, on Thursday repeated his plea for anyone with information to contact police.

He said: ‘We now have seven people in custody and continue to build a picture of the events that led to the tragic loss of this young man’s life.

‘People are continuing to come forward with information, but I still want to hear from anyone who has not yet got in touch with us.

‘If you have footage that we have not yet seen, or you know what may have happened in the lead up to Boxing Day’s awful events, I’d urge you to do the right thing and speak to us right now.

‘We are determined to get answers and justice for Cody’s friends and family, and won’t stop until that happens.

‘We are keeping them updated with developments as they happen, and continue to support them through this awful time.’

A relative at the Fisher home in Studley, Warwickshire, told MailOnline: ‘As you can imagine, it’s a very difficult time for the family. We’re devastated and trying to make sense of it.

‘Cody was a wonderful boy and the family had had a wonderful Christmas. All of this is really heart breaking.’ 

The 23-year-old from Redditch was a semi-professional footballer who had played for Stratford Town, Stourbridge FC and Bromsgrove Sporting. 

His girlfriend Jess Chatwin also shared a short tribute on social media. She said: ‘I’m so sorry this has happened to you my baby please come home. I love you for ever Cody Fisher.’ 

In an Instagram story Ms Chatwin posted a picture of the pair out for drinks with the caption: ‘My baby’s smile. How can you take him away? It was meant to be us for ever’. 

The Crane cancelled its New Year’s Eve event in light of the incident and said it was working closely with police. 

Revellers at the nightclub criticised security searches at the event and recalled a ‘moody’ atmosphere inside the venue, where popular techno DJ Marco Carola was playing.

An 18-year-old man from Wolverhampton, who did not want to be named, said the incident was a ‘disaster waiting to happen’ because the security searches were poor and ‘anyone could have brought anything in’. 

He said of the entry: ‘Me and the friend I was with, not once did we get asked to clear our pockets out even though mine were full. I had cargo trousers on with pockets full.

‘They didn’t even touch me whilst searching me, they just followed the outline of my body with their hands then tapped me to say go on through.

‘Obviously you want everyone to have a good time and enjoy themselves [but] when we got in I said to my friend: ‘That’s the worst search I’ve ever seen’. Anyone could have brought anything in.’

Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, leading the investigation, said: ‘This was a young man enjoying himself with friends on a Boxing Day night out and our thoughts are with his friends and family today.

‘We know there were hundreds of people in the nightclub at the time. While we’ve spoken to a number of them already, we still need to hear from anyone who was there and who witnessed or even filmed what happened.

‘We believe that the victim was approached by a group of people, and was then stabbed, so we’re working hard to identify all of those involved.’

Stratford Town Football posted in memory of their player on Twitter, saying: ‘Everyone at Stratford Town Football is saddened to hear of the tragic loss of one of our own players, Cody Fisher.

‘Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Cody. Our thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.’

Non-league football club Bromsgrove Sporting also paid tribute to their former player.

In a tweet, the club said: ‘All of us at Bromsgrove Sporting Football Club are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Cody Fisher.

‘Cody, was a friend to many at the club and we send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.’

Anyone with information or who was in the area at the time has been asked to get in touch with West Midlands Police via Live Chat, quoting log 3792 of 26 December.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.