Latest news with #GrahamSaville
The Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Police sergeant hit by train after ‘misleading' information given, inquest hears
A police sergeant was struck by a train after 'misleading' information was given to officers trying to help a vulnerable man on a railway line, an inquest has heard. Police officers were told Network Rail would be contacted to stop the train, but the call was delayed by five minutes before Graham Saville was fatally injured in Balderton, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, an inquest into the 46-year-old's death was told. Nottingham Coroner's Court heard that officers attending the incident with Sgt Saville repeatedly told the police dispatcher that the distressed man, referred to in court as Patient C, was near the railway line on the evening of August 24 2023. No contact was made with Network Rail to stop the train until 20 seconds before Sgt Saville was struck at 7.08pm, Nottinghamshire coroner Laurinda Bower told the inquest. Ms Bower said the two officers were told the police control room was 'on to' National Rail and had them 'ready to go in case' Patient C went onto the tracks, but 'the phone had not been picked up'. Jack Richardson, who was working as a Nottinghamshire Police dispatcher for the Newark area that evening, gave evidence to the inquest on Wednesday, and told the court the call to stop trains on the line 'should have been made sooner'. The coroner asked him if the reassurances given to the officers were 'misleading', to which the witness replied: 'It could be interpreted that way by the officers, yes.' Ms Bower said to Mr Richardson: 'It seems to me that there was a five minute delay in seeking to make contact with Network Rail, between officers saying he is looking like he (Patient C) is going to go onto the line… then five minutes lapsing before anyone picks up the phone to get onto Network Rail. 'It limits the time Network Rail has got to take any effective action.' The witness said: 'I was not aware that we should be calling Network Rail prior to that. It was my understanding that a call should be made when someone enters a rail network.' Mr Richardson agreed it was 'obvious' that it would take more than a few seconds to stop a train moving at a speed of up to 125mph. He added: 'That call should have been made sooner. Given the new training that's been brought in, Network Rail should be advised, informed, as soon as there is a first mention of someone heading towards the railway network.' Sgt Saville sustained serious injuries and his life support was withdrawn five days after the collision, the inquest heard. The inquest continues.
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Sergeant struck by train two seconds after order to stay off tracks
A police sergeant was struck by a train while trying to help a distressed man two seconds after an order was given for officers to stay off the tracks, an inquest has heard. Nottingham Coroner's Court heard that two trains, which could have been travelling up to 120mph, were coming from both directions before Graham Saville, 46, was fatally injured on the line in Balderton, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, on August 24 2023. The inquest was told that Sgt Saville, who was based at Newark Police Station, was responding to a concerns about a man, referred to in court as Patient C, who had called emergency services that evening saying he had taken an overdose. The court heard that an order telling the officers to stay off the line was made by the control room 20 minutes after the first call was made about Patient C going towards the railway line. But the order was made 'far too late' for officers to get off the track, the inquest heard. Nottinghamshire coroner Laurinda Bower also told the inquest that there was no successful communication from the police control room to Network Rail asking them to stop the trains until 20 seconds before Sgt Saville was struck. Police constable Liv Stockdale, who was on duty alongside Sgt Saville and Pc Ben Powell at the time of the incident, gave evidence to the inquest on Tuesday. Ms Bower said to Pc Stockdale: 'You say, over the radio waves, Patient C is currently stood next to a gate which will lead to a train line. Control room say 'will get on to Network Rail'. 'We can see from the body worn footage at 19.06 hours Patient C starts to climb onto the gate. At 19.07 hours your colleague Sergeant Graham Saville turns on his body worn camera.' The court heard that Pc Stockdale repeatedly asked the control room to contact Network Rail for the trains to be stopped and said Patient C was 'running down' to the tracks. The coroner asked: 'Were you reassured by that communication that there was contact with Network Rail to get an urgent stop on the line?' The witness replied: 'From what I remember, yes.' The court heard that there was 'very little time' between Sgt Saville arriving at the scene and him instructing Pc Powell to go over the fence, which he did, followed by Sgt Saville and Pc Stockdale. Pc Stockdale told the inquest: 'When we went down onto the trackside it was more to keep an eye on Patient C because he was running further away from where we were initially stood.' Ms Bower said: 'At 19.08 hours you put another call out over the radio saying you can see a train in both directions coming. In fairness to you this is a matter of seconds, about 15 seconds, before sadly Graham is struck.' The inquest heard that the trains travel at around 120 mph and can cover 55 metres per second, which the coroner described as 'incredibly fast, blink of an eye stuff'. The inquest heard there was an instruction made over the radio at 7.08pm that 'all officers are to stay off the tracks', but this was two seconds before Sgt Saville was hit. Pc Stockdale said: 'From being down on the trackside, the signal was very intermittent. We were unsure what was actually getting passed to the control room at the time.' Sgt Saville's Taser record suggests the trigger was pressed at around the same time that Pc Stockdale said she could see the trains coming. The inquest heard that Sgt Saville's life support was withdrawn five days after he was injured. The sergeant's wife, Joanne Saville, read a pen portrait to the inquest, in which she called her husband a 'fantastic' father-of-two and a compassionate 'big softy' who was also 'logical, measured, and calm under pressure'. She added: 'These qualities made him an excellent police officer but also a great person to have in your life. 'Graham never thought of himself as being brave or a hero. He was a policeman who just got on with what needed to be done. 'He loved this job and the challenges he faced every day. We are immensely proud of everything he's done.' The inquest continues.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Cop uncle of Premier League star died after he was hit by train while trying to save ‘vulnerable' man on track
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. 5 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. 5 5 5
