Heartbreak of WPC's husband

9:08am Monday 13th October 2008

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"IT'S like having a part of yourself ripped away and knowing it's not coming back."

Those were the words of Sgt Richard Underhill as he spoke yesterday about the tragedy which saw his police officer wife Sarah die as the couple were to become parents for the first time.

Sgt Underhill, who lives in Wallingford, was speaking after the death of his 37-year-old wife at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, a week ago.

Doctors delivered their twins Hannah Louise and James Thomas by Caesarean section.

Last night, the family said both babies were now out of intensive care and were doing well at the hospital's baby unit.

Sgt Underhill said: "When she died, it really was like standing at ground zero, as if everything had been wiped out around me.

"I can't believe she's not here. We were so connected — I would phone her every day and her phone would be engaged, because she would be ringing me at the same time.

"Looking back makes me sad but looking forward also makes me sad, because we had so many plans. We were planning to explore the world with our children."

The couple, who both worked for Thames Valley Police, married in June 2005.

Mr Underhill said: "Sarah and I were as close as you could be. We loved each other very much and were desperately keen for a family."

He said they were overjoyed when Sarah became pregnant and described the nine months of pregnancy as filled with "apprehension, fear and joy".

His wife was taken into hospital with maternity-related complications on Thursday, October 2 — when she was 35 weeks and five days pregnant — and died three days later.

"The care the babies have received has been fantastic. The hospital staff have done everything they can for them," Mr Underhill said. "Hannah is making great progress and James has already overcome some major hurdles, although it's difficult to know at this stage whether or not he will have any long-term problems.

"I cuddle the twins and it makes me feel happy, because I really love those children, but when I leave, I feel guilty, having felt joy in this sad time."

Mr Underhill spoke of his wife's pride in her career as a police officer, after she joined Thames Valley Police in May 2003.

She had received a commendation while working in High Wycombe for giving first aid to a man who had been shot.

Recently she had been working as a neighbourhood officer in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

"Sarah was a wonderful, generous person, who always put other people before herself. She was the sort of person who cheered everyone up," Sgt Underhill said.

He said his wife would have been a fantastic mum and added: "She had been researching how to bring our babies up, to make sure they got the best start in life. She nearly made it.

"I want Sarah to be proud in the way I bring up our children — I want to bring them up the way she wanted.

"I will miss her so very much."