Cop uncle of Premier League star died after he was hit by train while trying to save ‘vulnerable' man on track

The Sun

3 days ago

THE police officer uncle of a Premier League star died when he was hit by a train while trying to save a "vulnerable" man, an inquest heard.
Sergeant Graham Saville, 46, suffered "catastrophic" injuries during the horror in Balderton, Nottinghamshire.
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The officer - uncle of Burnley and ex-Nottingham Forest star Joe Worrall - sadly died in hospital five days later.
An inquest heard Sgt Saville was attempting to rescue a man, named as Patient C, from the tracks on August 23, 2023.
Patient C had called emergency crews claiming he had taken an overdose, having previously tried to take his life a week earlier.
The call handler advised him to stay where he was while the police and ambulance services were contacted.
Around 18 minutes later, the conversation ended when officers arrived on the scene and were handed the phone by the man.
At 7.09pm, another call was made confirming Patient C had jumped in front of a train and appeared to have been electrocuted.
The caller then revealed Sgt Saville had been hurt, suffering injuries to his left leg and arm.
Paramedic Darren Sleigh told how he arrived to find the dad-of-two lying on his back "parallel" to the track.
He said: "I noticed he had sustained serious injuries. Paramedics applied further tourniquets to his arm and leg. He was breathing, but not sufficiently so respiration was applied.
"Observations were taken which were all indicative of pain, shock, or severe blood loss."
The court heard Sgt Saville wounds were treated with trauma packs before he was handed over to a doctor who was flown to the scene via air ambulance.
He was then taken to hospital where medics found he had suffered a severe ischemic brain injury, which is when there is insufficient blood flow to the brain.
His cause of death was listed as "multiple injuries", which caused "profound blood loss".
Patient C was also taken to hospital with electrocution injuries before being released.
Coroner Laurinda Bower said: "It is incredibly sad that Graham went to work as a public servant and didn't return home to his loving family."
Sgt Saville, who was based at Newark Police Station, had just been promoted to a response sergeant when he died.
He began his career with the Metropolitan Police in 2013 before transferring to Nottinghamshire Police in February 2017.
Following 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".
She said: '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.
'Ultimately his desire to help others has led to him making the ultimate sacrifice. We are devastated. The outpouring of love from all those who knew him is testament to the amazing person he was.
'We are so lucky to have loved him.'
Following his death, a minute's applause was held at Forest's Carabao Cup match with Burnley at the City Ground.
Worrall, 26, was seen looking heartbroken in the strands during the poignant tribute.
He later paid tribute to his uncle, he said he was "proud" of how his family had stuck together following the tragedy.
The centre-back added: "Thinking about him and his life is something that we'll do behind closed doors and privately.
"There's a lot of good people out there and particularly people in the police force, the ambulance service and the NHS and these people need to be celebrated.
'It takes such tragic circumstances for people to be celebrated and I think that these people are the real heroes."
The inquest, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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