World
British man dies in freak accident at his engagement party
A British police officer living in Australia has died after a freak accident.
Liam Trimmer was celebrating his engagement with his new fiancee, a nurse, in Western Australia when he fell and cut a carotid artery in his neck on Sunday, local media reported.
Carotid arteries are major blood vessels that provide the brain’s blood supply.
It is believed family and friends tried to save the 29-year-old’s life, but he died before emergency services arrived.
Liam Trimmer
An inquest has been opened.
Mr Trimmer had emigrated from the UK to Australia in 2013 and later graduated from Western Australia’s (WA) police academy. He was a senior constable with the force.
He moved to the outback mining town of Kalgoorlie, around 370 miles east of Perth, in 2017 and was a member of the force’s gang crime squad and tactical response group.
The officer also took part in a BBC programme Wanted Down Under, which followed British families who were considering emigrating to Australia.
He was filmed giving a British teenager advice on what to expect if her family relocated.
Col Blanch, the commissioner of Western Australia police, told a Perth radio station: “Everything was done to try and save him, but it wasn’t to be.
“I know everyone that was involved are really, really hurting. I think they wish they could just wake up from this nightmare.”
Liam Trimmer on the BBC programme Wanted Down Under. Pic: Western Australia Police/BBC
He described Mr Trimmer as “a very confident, capable young man with his whole life ahead of him”.
“This extraordinary officer – loved helping the community [and] was a fine example of WA policing and it’s such a tragedy,” he added.
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Western Australia Police told Sky News: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are extended to his family and colleagues. Our Health, Welfare and Safety Division will provide support to those impacted by this tragedy.”
The state’s police union also paid tribute to Mr Trimmer.