Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Newark MP Robert Jenrick lead tributes to Nottinghamshire Police hero Sergeant Graham Saville after he died from injuries sustained saving man’s life on East Coast Mainline near Newark

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has led tributes to a policeman who died in the line of duty having saved the life of a man on the railway as pictures are released of him.

The Prime Minister posted on X, previously known as Twitter: “I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Sergeant Saville. It is a testament to his bravery that he died in the line of duty and a terrible reminder of the work the police do every day to keep us safe.

“My thoughts are with his family, friends and the whole of Nottinghamshire Police Force.”

Home Secretary Suella Braverman posted on X: “I offer my deepest condolences to the family and Nottinghamshire Police colleagues of Sergeant Graham Saville, who has lost his life after saving a man in distress on a railway line.

“We owe our police officers an immense debt of gratitude for their bravery while protecting us all.”

News of the officer’s death was announced last night. His family were at his hospital bedside.

A fundraising page, initially set up in the hope it would be paying for the officer’s rehabilitation, has now been re-dedicated to raising money to support his family.

At the time of publishing, it had raised more than £84,500 from 4,847 supporters.

Tributes that accompany donations on the page include: “RIP Sgt Saville. Heartfelt condolences to all of your family, friends and colleagues. As a 'police mum' myself this is the news no-one ever wants to hear and everyone dreads. Utterly tragic.”

Another said simply: “Exceptional courage from a very brave man.”

Newark MP Robert Jenrick wrote on X: “Sergeant Graham Saville selflessly gave his life to save someone else. All of us in Newark salute his exceptional bravery and self sacrifice, which won't be forgotten.”

Flags in Nottinghamshire including the one at Newark Town Hall have been at half mast, since the announcement Sergeant Saville, a father of two, had died from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

“It is an extraordinary thing that we ask of our police and emergency services; to run towards the greatest danger, to make those split second decisions, and to risk their own lives in order to save others, the town council said.

“We stand with Sgt Saville's family, his friends and his colleagues, as they feel the weight of their loss.

“We share in their grief, and we offer them our prayers. Together, we stand beside our police community, in gratitude and in pride, that we should have such people among us, and on our side.”

An investigation into the incident, led by British Transport Police, is ongoing.

Enquiries confirmed the officer was struck by a train whilst responding to an incident involving concern for the welfare of a man on the East Coast Mainline on Thursday evening of last week. The man, a 29-year-old, sustained electrocution injuries, and was also taken to hospital where he remains with injuries which are not believed to be life-changing.