Man dies after rushing to help partner following newsagent robbery in Saltcoats

Police are continuing inquiries following the armed robbery at Wylie's Newsagents in Saltcoats.

It happened around 3.40pm on Friday while the 63-year-old woman was working at the shop in Springvale Street.

A man threatened her with a knife and demanded money and ran out of the shop with a small amount of cash, leaving the shop assistant uninjured but very distressed.

Police say the suspect is described as white, 5ft 8in, and of medium build. He wore a blue rain jacket with the hood up, blue jeans and had a black scarf covering his face.

Her 71-year-old partner went to the shop after hearing about the robbery, but collapsed and was taken to Crosshouse Hospital, but he died a short time later.

A post-mortem examination will take place in due course to establish the exact cause of death and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

Detective Inspector Fraser Normansell, Saltcoats CID, said: ''This was a very traumatic experience for the 63-year-old shop assistant who not only suffered the ordeal of the robbery itself but also witnessed the elderly man collapsing in the aftermath of the incident.

It is vital that we trace the culprit and stop him from causing any further harm and distress and as such I urge anyone who was in the vicinity of Springdale Street in Saltcoats around 3.40pm on Friday and may have seen the suspect hanging around the area to contact police at Saltcoats immediately via telephone number 101.

I also appeal to any drivers who were in the area to check their dash cams as they may have captured the suspect on their camera. If so, I ask that they also contact police urgently.''