RIP PC David Rathband

[denideth]

PC David Rathband, the policeman blinded by gunman Raoul Moat, has been found dead at his home in Blyth, Northumberland, in a suspected suicide.

Pc Rathband was shot twice by Moat, in the face and the shoulder, as he sat in his patrol car on the outskirts of Newcastle in July 2010.

Last week, Twitter users became concerned for Mr Rathband's state of mind after he posted a series of worrying messages. He had also publicly attempted to reconcile with his wife.

During a visit to his brother Darren in Australia, he tweeted: "Very emotional few days, but back on track. Now focusing on my trip back to the UK and the road ahead."

Northumbria police visited his home in Blyth at around 7pm last night after becoming concerned about his welfare.

A spokesman said: "Officers received a report of concern for the welfare of PC David Rathband at his home in Blyth. Officers attended alongside the ambulance service and PC Rathband was found inside.

"He was declared dead at the scene. A police investigation is underway and officers are notifying his family. The coroner has been informed."


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...gunman-Raoul-Moat-found-dead-at-his-home.html




Only lived a two minute drive from me. Poor guy, guess it all got too much for him.

 

[Eklipze3k]

 

[ChrisUK]

Looks like he's took his own life then?

 

[ascott92]

My heart sank at this. Such a fighter to survive, tho it is totally understandable.

RIP

 

[jnoiles]

Poor guy. Rest in peace.

 

[Shadeyman]

Having problems at home, took his own life, according to the radio this morning.

A terrible shame that such a brave man took his own life because of "problems at home".

 

[RuSZ]

Was listening to the reports and interviews he did on 909am this morning, was really moved by the interviews that he had done.

he went through so much after the attack. He was understated and always believed he was doing worse than what the carers said he was, according to the radio.

But you can never overcome the physcological effects of something like this.

I guess his legacy of the Blue Lamp Foundation is a moving tribute

 

[Kier]

Was generally upset to hear about this at work, never met him, but he was truly inspirational.

RIP.

 

[Magic Johnson]

Was generally upset to hear about this at work, never met him, but he was truly inspirational.

wouldn't quite go that far.

Rip though, terrible thing to have happen to you.

 

[Kier]

wouldn't quite go that far.

Rip though, terrible thing to have happen to you.

Well I would, so kindly **** off.

 

[Magic Johnson]

so you aspire to force your loved ones away and eventually commit suicide?

 

[Kier]

so you aspire to force your loved ones away and eventually commit suicide?

Of course being shot in the face and blinded had nothing to do with it did it? Anyway, this thread isn't about that.

 

[Magic Johnson]

No, but people go through a lot worse than him, like the heroes that represent our country overseas.

He got a tough break.

It is a very sad case but an inspirational one?

 

[RuSZ]

No, but people go through a lot worse than him, like the heroes that represent our country overseas.

He got a tough break.

It is a very sad case but an inspirational one?

Total agree with Kier.. I think he was an inspiration to. I feel insulted, but thats my opinion, and your intitled to yours, as is Kier.

He was an innocent man shot by a crazed mad man. he struggled on to cope with blindness. Yes people have been through worse, such as our armed forces in Afganistan.

However the point is he inspired hundreds of people, because unlike the Army, Navy and Air Force there was NO support for ex members of the Police or Fire Service injured in the line of duty. He set up the blue lamp foundation which now helps forced retires of the forces.

Thats why i find him inspirational.

I dont normally back up people who have commited suicide, i believe itself a selfish act.

but normally the person involved hasnt created a foundation that now supports hundreds if not thousands of ex-forces.

 

[ChrisUK]

Hear hear. tbh if it wasn't for the blue lamp foundation I'd have agreed with MJ, such a selfish act making everyone that cared for him hurt.

The thing that angers me the most is that dispatch knew the idiot was on the loose murdering people and PC Rathband and most of the other officers where not informed!

 

[RuSZ]

Hear hear. tbh if it wasn't for the blue lamp foundation I'd have agreed with MJ.

The thing that angers me the most is that dispatch knew he was on the loose and PC Rathband and most of the other officers where not informed!

Agreed, the Blue Lamp Foundation is the swinging part for me.

As ive said, i feel suicide is a selfish act and i dont have time about it, but the support he created for people injured like him was "truley inspirational"

 

[Magic Johnson]

Oh really? I know a few ex-coppers that received very healthy pay outs for what were relatively minor injuries.

Course he was innocent, there's no debating that. I feel really sorry for the entire story, but I'm just struggling to see how anyone can find this inspirational.

 

[ChrisUK]

Oh really? I know a few ex-coppers that received very healthy pay outs for what were relatively minor injuries.

Course he was innocent, there's no debating that. I feel really sorry for the entire story, but I'm just struggling to see how anyone can find this inspirational.

IIRC he didn't get a penny other than his pension which he was allowed to take early as he was incapacited in the line of duty.

He even got turned down for incapacity benefit and a local MP had to intervene! This was half the reason he setup the foundation as what was already in place wasn't adequate.

 

[RuSZ]

Oh really? I know a few ex-coppers that received very healthy pay outs for what were relatively minor injuries.

Course he was innocent, there's no debating that. I feel really sorry for the entire story, but I'm just struggling to see how anyone can find this inspirational.

Yes really. No cant be ****ed arguing.

 

[Magic Johnson]

That's right, these things do take a while though, if he hadn't topped himself he would have got a fair amount. He was also suing the force for 1 million pounds.

I'm sure his pension kept him afloat during that time.

He also assaulted his wife. Sounds like a typical copper to me, and setting up a foundation for injured cops doesn't change that.