Suffolk man suffers head injuries

A MAN is today continuing to receive treatment in hospital for serious head injuries after armed police surrounded a house in a small Suffolk village.

Officers sealed off the main village street at Wickham Skeith, near Eye, after receiving a report of a man wielding a firearm yesterday.

The Suffolk police helicopter hovered over the scene as officers discovered a 46-year-old man, named as Paul Gooderham, with serious head injuries.

Mr Gooderham was today in a critical but stable condition at Ipswich Hospital.

He had formerly lived at the smart, detached house with his wife, Donna.

The couple, who had seven children, two from Mrs Gooderham's first marriage, had been separated and Mr Gooderham had been living with one of his daughters in Stradbroke. The youngest of the children is seven.

Mr Gooderham, a lorry driver, was taken to Ipswich Hospital by air ambulance with what police described as life-threatening injuries.

Nearby residents said they had been shocked and alarmed by the arrival of armed police and the road being sealed off.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said the couple had lived in the village for many years and had carefully looked after their home and garden and their large family.

“There were an awful lot of police there and some of them had guns. I'm glad the incident is all over - it was a bad job. You wouldn't want this sort of thing to happen to anybody,” he said.

Residents were advised by police officers to keep inside their properties while the incident was dealt with. The road was sealed off for about 90 minutes and traffic diverted.

A Suffolk police statement issued later said: “We were called at 2.20 pm following concern for the safety of a man at a property there who was armed.

“Police attended and discovered a 46-year-old male with serious head injuries. He was taken to Ipswich Hospital where the injuries are considered life-threatening. A female was safely escorted out of the property.

Police said 46-year-old man from Wickham Skeith had been arrested under the Firearms Act and they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Wickham Skeith has a small population - just 350 - but is renowned for its community spirit. Among its more well-known residents is the actress Helen Fraser.