Inquest into the death of police sergeant Graham Saville, who died at the railways tracks near Balderton, continues
An emotional tribute was paid to a brave policeman and caring dad who was killed after being struck by a train as he tried to rescue a person in distress.
Sergeant Graham Saville was attempting to save ‘Patient C’ on the tracks near Hollowdyke Lane, Balderton, on August 24, 2023, when he was hit by a train.
Sgt Saville, 46, a father of two, died at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, on August 29. His family has agreed for the sergeant to be referred to as Graham throughout the inquest.
Today (June 3), the inquest — held at Nottingham Council House — heard that the two police constables who were present at the scene when Graham died felt they had not received enough training relating to railway lines. Tragically, an order for the officers to get off the railway tracks came too late — just seconds before Graham was hit.
Graham’s wife Joanne Saville — who he married in 2006 and had two children with in 2013 and 2014 — read an emotional pen-portrait about the ‘fantastic dad’ of two, who used to say his children had much more courage and bravery than he did at their age.
She told the inquest: “For all the fun and mischief, Graham was diligent and careful about things he considered important in his life.
“As much as he was logical, measured and calm under pressure, he was equally thoughtful, sentimental, kind, caring.”
He was described as having a gentle character and said to be dependable, respected, compassionate, supportive, and to have a quirky sense of humour.
Joanne added: “His qualities made him an excellent police officer, but also a great person to have in your life in whatever form that took.”
He loved his job and the challenges he faced every day.
“Graham will never be forgotten, for some that may be because of his service and sacrifice, but for his family, it will just be because he was Graham and one of a kind.”
Joanne said that his life philosophy was to experience what life has to offer and said his spirit is still alive through his children.
Fellow officers give evidence
The inquest was told that Patient C had called emergency services, saying he intended to take his life.
Patient C’s mother rang Nottinghamshire Police at 6.49pm on the day, alerting them that her son was missing. Patient C was already said to be known to the force.
The court heard evidence from officers PC Liv Stockdale and PC Ben Powell, who were the first to locate Patient C at 6.58pm, where he climbed a locked gate, waist height, leading onto the railway tracks.
When asked about the railway line training received, PC Stockdale said she might have seen parts of the document but not the whole bundle.
She had joined the force as a police constable 18 months prior to the incident and did not recall a Nottinghamshire Police risk assessment regarding railway lines or how to behave when a taser is shot.
She said: “We create our own risk assessment and go from there.”
While on their way to the scene, PC Stockdale and PC Powell heard Patient C was vulnerable, a suicide risk and was heading to the railway line, where London-bound trains pass at a high speed.
PC Stockdale told the hearing that she had contacted the police control room and asked them to get onto Network Rail to stop any coming trains.
At 7.07pm, Graham, who was trained in the use of a taser, arrived separately to assist with the situation. He instructed both PCs to follow him to pursue Patient C.
The coroner, Laurinda Bower, concluded that there was no discussion on whether the line had been stopped, whether trains were coming or whether someone was to be on the lockout for trains; it was a situation of ‘follow and try to catch’.
PC Stockdale agreed that there should have been more clarity between the three on what stages to go through next and a risk assessment before acting.
Despite continued requests for an urgent stop, the court heard there was no successful communication from the control room to Network Rail until 7.08pm.
About 15 seconds before Graham was struck by the train, the police control room instructed them to get off the track. However, the coroner said that the order ‘came far too late’ as the first call to the control room was made nearly 20 minutes before.
The court heard that LNER trains travel up to 120mph, covering about 55 metres per second.
“I think we knew the risks of being on that train line but what follows afterwards, I don’t think we were prepared for, especially not knowing it is a fast line or a slow line, which completely changes what we have got,” added PC Stockdale.
Graham’s taser record showed that it was activated around the same moment two trains, travelling north and south, were visible. He shot his taser diagonally toward Patient C on the tracks.
PC Powell, a PC since November 2019, explained that he was given training regarding how to act around railway lines — but said he had not been given the training needed to handle the situation once it had moved onto the tracks.
He added that, from his knowledge, officers would contact the control room for them to contact Network Rail before entering the line, but ‘it’s down to judgement and situation by situation’.
The inquest was told that despite being given orders from above, officers can make their own judgement calls in the moment.
Detective inspector Ian Wright from British Transport Police, confirmed that BTP is given ‘above and beyond’ training regarding railway lines, despite the risks being the same for both BTP officers and local officers when being put in such a situation.
It was agreed that if Network Rail had been given further notice, it would have given Graham more time ‘of action’.
The inquest continues.
Anyone affected by the issues raised in this story can call Samaritans on 116 123 free from any phone, or visit www.samaritans.org for free, round the clock, confidential support. Always call 999 in an emergency if you are in immediate danger.
