Man, 23, stabbed to death on Birmingham dance floor named as footballer Cody Fisher

A 23-year-old man stabbed to death on the dance floor of a Birmingham nightclub has been named as footballer Cody Fisher.

Police have launched a murder investigation after Fisher was fatally stabbed at a venue in Digbeth on Boxing Day.

A police vehicle outside Crane nightclub earlier today (27 December)

West Midlands Police were called to The Crane nightclub on Adderley Street just before 11.45pm yesterday (26 December) to reports that the young man had been stabbed.

Despite efforts to save him, the victim was pronounced dead around 30 minutes later, according to a police statement.

His family, currently being supported by specialist officers, said: “They have broken our hearts; I have lost my best friend.”

Fisher played left back in local non-league football around Birmingham and also for Stratford Town and Stourbridge. His picture released by West Midlands Police shows him in the colours of a Bromsgrove side.

The young man was pronounced dead 30 minutes after police arrived on the scene

Police confirmed that no one had been arrested at this stage, as detectives continue to view CCTV from the nightclub. Police believe the victim was approached by a group before being stabbed and are urging anyone in the club to get in touch.

Det Insp 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.”

Officers outside Crane nightclub earlier today (27 December) — Police officers outside Crane nightclub earlier today (27 December)

Neighbourhood officers will be patrolling the area over the coming days to offer reassurance, police added.

The tragic incident took place during a Boxing Day event featuring well-known techno DJ Marco Carola.

One clubber attending the event told the PA news agency there were “groups of lads” who were “looking to cause trouble”.

Cody Fisher was a football player in local non-league football around Birmingham

“As soon as me and my friends walked in, we got a very weird vibe and the atmosphere wasn’t good,” said Sydnee Power, 23, from Birmingham.

In a statement from Crane nightclub, the venue said its staff were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the incident, which happened shortly before the event was due to finish at midnight.

A spokesperson for the Digbeth venue said, “Our thoughts are with the victim, and his family and friends” and staff were working closely with investigators.