Paul Beecroft, Coroner’s Investigator: It’s A Beautiful Day
My friend, Paul Beecroft, has spent a good deal of his life in law enforcement, in England. He’s worked Foot Patrol, Area Car, Instant Response Car and also as a Police Motorcyclist. He’s currently a coroner’s investigator and has traveled all over England, Wales, Scotland and even Germany to investigate crimes.
Paul is an avid falconer, and he’s a pretty darn good writer. Today he’s taken another page from one of his own notebooks to share with us. Please enjoy.
It’s A Beautiful Day
Dawn
6.30 am
Early shift
Sun rising
Warming
Mist rests across the River Thames
Swans and Ducks preening
A clear blue sky
It’s a beautiful day
The town stirs
Shops open
Daily life begins
Breakfast
Coffee
Hot sausages with brown sauce and fresh rolls
Radio
“Echo One One Over”
“Go ahead over”
“Immediate response please, S…….. Woods, start making”
“Copied”
“Dog walker has found a BMW motor car”
“Engine running”
“Hose pipe in exhaust”
“Ambulance contacted”
“Copied, ETA 6 to 7 minutes”
Blues and Twos on
Through busy traffic
Most moving over
Getting closer
Woods in view
Up the long hill
Through the dirt entrance
Open space of car parking area
Lone BMW
Black
Cars skids as we stop
BMW engine still running
Doors locked
Baton
Smack on side window
Smack
Smack
Won’t Break
Partner manages his
Locks sprung
Open rear door
The smell hits
Female tumbles out
Catch her
Hair
Long hair
Brown
Luxurious
Heavy
Freshly washed
Unconscious
Pull her out
My God
Children
Two
One boy, one girl
Pull out the girl
Partner with the boy
Mouth to mouth
Chest compressions
“Give her to me, you do the adult”
Paramedics have arrived
Move to adult
Not breathing
No pulse
CPR
Nothing
No pulse
Not breathing
CPR
Second Paramedic crew arrive
Take over
Five
Ten
Fifteen minutes
An eternity
No response
Dead
All dead
Quiet
No one speaks
Three bodies
Mother, Son, Daughter
All gone
Radio
“Echo One One over”
“Go ahead over”
“Situation is…………………..”
Paul Beecroft
“I see dead people.”
Posted in English Notebooks
November 4th, 2009 8:26 am
Thank you for sharing that, Paul. It’s sad enough that someone would resort to such a permanent solution to a temporary problem, but why bring the kids into it too? I’ll never understand…
If I may ask, what does “Blues and Twos on” mean?
November 4th, 2009 10:02 am
Oh, what a heartbreaker. Of all the things an investigator has to deal with, a situation involving children must be the worst.
November 4th, 2009 2:41 pm
Hello Carla…..Blues and Twos is primarily Cop slang for Blue Lights and Two Tone Horn.(siren)
Puzzlehouse….Yes, dealing with dead children is to my mind definately the worst. You tend to never forget them.
Best wishes
Paul
November 5th, 2009 9:56 am
Just found this entry as I was checking emails. This is beautifully written and captivating. I know it will stay with me for a long time. Loved the photo too, btw. I worked for British Airways (world’s greatest airline!) for ten wonderful years and spent a lot of time in the UK. They’re lucky to have you. Thanks for guest blogging.
November 5th, 2009 11:27 am
Margaret,
Thank you, that was very kind of you. It has stayed with me for a long time as well. This actually happened some 15 years ago.
Take care and best wishes
Paul