The Tragic Tale of PC 190 David Rathband

Two days ago, on the 29th of March, it was sadly confirmed by Northumbria Police that PC David Rathband had been found dead at his home in Blyth, Northumbria, on Wednesday. Although at this point it has not been officially confirmed he took his own life, Northumbria Police have released a statement stating they were not seeking anyone else in connection with his death. When I heard the news I have to admit I wasn't surprised but it was still awfully shocking all the same. I had read recent news reports about his private life and could only imagine how low he must have been feeling.

Working in the job I do, the Raoul Moat story was something I followed intently from start to finish. PC Rathband was shot twice in the head on the 4th of July 2010, as he sat stationary in his patrol car. He miraculously survived, but a few weeks later it was announced that his sight could not be saved. In recent months he had been working hard with the charity he set up, to provide the help people like himself did not receive at the time of his injuries. This charity is the Blue Lamp Foundation and their goal is: 'To relieve the financial hardship that some personnel of the Emergency Services may face after being criminally injured whilst on duty.' The charity have confirmed that will be continuing to operate in his memory.

I was watching Sky News earlier today and they interviewed the politician David Blunkett. He made a very good point when he said that he, himself had been very lucky in a strange kind of way, because he had been blind all his life and had grown up with it. He said he had experienced the obvious frustrations you would go through whilst still being a teenager and had learnt to accept his disability as a way of life.

Mr Blunkett then moved on and said that he believed that PC Rathband's circumstances would have been made worse as everything his life stood for before he was shot, fell apart around him. His marriage broke down and he could no longer work in the job he loved. PC Rathband had also made public comments stating he found it very frustrating that he couldn't do even the most basic things that he took for granted.

I personally believe that the last paragraph highlights the real tragedy behind the story. Here was an innocent police officer, doing his job who was violently attacked by a ruthless murderer. On that day in July PC Rathband lost more than just his sight. He lost the very reasons he lived for. Unfortunately there was no light at the end of the tunnel for him and now Raoul Moat has claimed another victim.