Photographs have been released of the police officer who died after being hit by a train while trying to save a distressed man on the tracks.

Sergeant Graham Saville has been described as a “hugely respected and popular colleague” – with Nottinghamshire Police set to fly flags at half-mast across the force.

The 46-year-old was seriously hurt after the incident in Balderton near Newark-on-Trent last Thursday, and he died from his injuries yesterday.

One of his former colleagues – Nottinghamshire Police Federation branch chairman Simon Riley – said Sgt Saville was “everything that you would want in a police officer”.

Speaking to the Today programme, he added: “He was caring, compassionate, strongly determined, and just generally an all-around good, professional police officer.

“It’s fair to say that it has absolutely devastated the force, from everybody that I’ve spoken to and everybody that’s contacted us, everybody’s deeply saddened by it.”

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Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Caroline Henry, said it was a “tragic and utterly devastating incident where a police officer has lost his life to save another”.

She added that Sgt Saville’s death “has sent a shockwave through policing” – and the policeman’s family are being supported at this difficult time.

“We must never underestimate the bravery, sacrifice and dedication our police provide in the line of duty – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – to keep the public safe,” the commissioner’s statement said.

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The 29-year-old man that Sgt Saville was assisting suffered electricity-inflicted injuries and remains in hospital, but his condition is not believed to be life-changing.

A JustGiving page established to support the sergeant’s immediate family has raised over £89,000.

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