A police officer died after being hit by a train as he helped a distressed man near a railway line, an inquest has heard.
Sgt Graham Saville, 46, of Nottinghamshire Police, was struck while on duty in Balderton, near Newark, on August 24 2023.
He initially survived the impact but suffered multiple injures and had his life support withdrawn five days later, Nottingham Coroner’s Court was told today.
Sgt Saville was the uncle of Burnley and ex-Nottingham Forest footballer Joe Worrall. He was described by his wife as ‘laid back, funny, silly and adventurous’ and someone who ‘loved his job’.
According to the inquest, a call was made to the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) on the evening of August 24 2023 from a distressed man, who was referred to in court as Patient C, 21 minutes before a call was made about Sgt Saville’s injuries.
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Coroner Laurinda Bower said: ‘Patient C advised he was not feeling violent and did not have a weapon.
‘He then advised the dispatcher that police were there. Patient C advised he was near the railway line but not on it.’
The court heard that Patient C’s call with EMAS ended at 7.05pm, but the control room received another call four minutes later.
The dispatcher was told that Sgt Saville had sustained injuries to his left leg and arm and his observations were ‘indicative of pain or shock, or in this case severe blood loss’.
Tourniquets were applied to Sgt Saville’s leg and arm at the scene before an ambulance took him to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, the inquest heard.
Ms Bower read a statement from intensive care consultant Dr Dan Harvey said said Sgt Saville started deteriorating in the early hours of August 29.
A subsequent CT scan showed swelling on his brain.
‘They confirmed there were no surgical options available at that time. This was tragically an unsurvivable event,’ she said.
After a discussion with his family, Sgt Saville’s life support was withdrawn and he was pronounced dead at 4.55pm that day, the coroner told the inquest.
Speaking after his death, his wife Joanne said the tragedy death had ‘devastated’ her family, but added they had taken ‘great comfort from the outpouring of love and admiration for him’.
‘Graham was a wonderful man. He was laid back, funny, silly and adventurous – he lived life to the full.
‘He loved his job and joined the police to do something worthwhile and to make a difference.’
She said his desire to help others had led to him ‘making the ultimate sacrifice’.
The inquest, which was attended by St Saville’s family, was adjourned and resumes on Tuesday. It is expected to last two weeks.
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