Helping Others Doesn’t Stop When the Shift Ends: Pippa’s Story

In policing, making a difference doesn’t stop when you’re off duty; whether in uniform or not, you’re always ready to help. After a normal evening at a football match with her family, Pippa found herself facing a life-or-death situation. A car crash left a man needing urgent help, and without thinking, she stepped in to save him.

Pippa joined Thames Valley Police in 2016 as a Witness Care Officer and quickly progressed into investigative roles. She became a PIP1 Accredited Investigator before moving to the Criminal Investigation Department as a Specialist Investigator in 2022. She also supports families in her role as a Family Liaison Officer.

We caught up with Pippa to hear more about that night at the football match and how she’s now raising awareness about the importance of CPR.

Take us back to that day – what happened, and how did you come to be involved?

In November 2022, I went to the Luton vs Reading game with my dad and my husband – I’m a big Reading fan. As we were walking back to the car, there was a huge crash. I turned around and saw that a car had T-boned another. Fearing the worst, I ran over. In the passenger seat of one of the cars was David, slumped over the steering wheel.

It was clear very quickly that he wasn’t breathing and needed urgent help. A member of the public and I pulled him from the car, and I started straight away. Thankfully, officers from Bedfordshire Police soon arrived and helped with CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
until the ambulance came. I also assisted the paramedics by helping attach the Lucas machine, and then they got to work saving his life. He was shocked three times.

At that point, I gave my details, and we left – honestly, I was really worried he wouldn’t make it. The next day, I posted a message on Twitter asking Reading and Luton fans if anyone knew what had happened to him. I also called Bedfordshire Police and the hospital, but, understandably, they couldn’t give me any updates.

Later that evening, a paramedic who’d been at the match messaged me. One of her colleagues had worked on David – and she told me he was alive. I was so relieved.

In December, I reached out to Luton FC asking for an update, and they passed on my details to David. He called me, and we were able to speak properly for the first time. Hearing about his recovery was just brilliant.

David and Pippa at the Select Car Leasing Stadium

You were off duty at the time; how did your police training come into play in that moment?

Technically, I was off duty…but are you ever really “off” when you’re in this job? I think it was instinct. I just knew someone needed help, and if I didn’t go over, who would?

My training kicked in like autopilot. A lot of people join the police because they want to help others or give back to their communities. So, when the moment comes, you don’t think – you just act. I’m so thankful I’m trained to perform CPR as part of my job, as the doctors later told David that if I hadn’t started CPR when I did, he probably wouldn’t have survived.

It must’ve been emotional to find out that David survived. And then to be recognised with a Pride of Reading award; how did that feel?

It was amazing to reconnect with David, and my superintendent at the time arranged for us to meet again at the return fixture in April 2022 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. It even made the national news – which we never expected!

Meeting David and his son Ed, was incredibly emotional. Ed had begged me to save his dad that night, so seeing them both again meant the world. We spent the evening together watching the game, and we’ve stayed in touch ever since – even meeting up at matches and texting every week about the scores. We’re both hoping Reading goes up and Luton stays up so we can face each other again next season!

In October 2023, I was invited to the Pride of Reading Awards after being nominated for the Local Hero award. I didn’t expect to win – there were some truly amazing nominees – but it was such a special evening, topped off with a lovely surprise. It’s strange accepting an award for something you just see as the right thing to do. It wasn’t just me – it was a whole team of people who saved David’s life that night.

Now you’re part of the Every Minute Matters campaign; what was it like to be invited to take part, and why does it feel important to you?

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) contacted me after seeing our story on the BBC. They asked if I’d share my Heart Story and attend the launch of the Every Minute Matters campaign at Wembley in May 2024 – I was seven months pregnant at the time, but I couldn’t say no!

My husband and I got to meet some incredible people that day and hear their powerful stories. The campaign, led by SkyBet, the EFL, and BHF, aims to get 270,000 people to learn CPR using the REVIVR tool on the BHF website. It’s a great 15-minute online course that teaches or refreshes your knowledge.

Then, in February 2025, we were asked to take part in the Every Minute Matters Relay, cycling the Reading to Wycombe leg – and we jumped at the chance!

Since that night, all David and I have wanted to do is raise awareness of how important CPR is. At a recent Reading match, I even arranged with the ambulance service to run CPR demonstrations outside the stadium.

Being part of this campaign is such an honour – the idea of filling Wembley three times over with fans who now know CPR is brilliant. You never know when someone might need help. It could be the person you sit next to every week at the game. Learning CPR is such a simple thing, but it could save a life.

According to BHF, only 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but the more people who know CPR, the better those odds become. The REVIVR tool even shows you how to use a defib, so you’re giving someone the best possible chance.

Finally, what would you say to someone considering a career in policing or a similar role, based on your experience?

Even though I’m not a warranted officer, I still get to do the work of a detective. I manage cases, interview witnesses and suspects, and attend court –I absolutely love what I do.

I’d really encourage anyone to look into Police Staff Investigator roles. You learn so many valuable skills – some of which, like CPR, can be used outside of work too. It gives you a real sense of purpose. You meet people at some of the worst moments of their lives, but you have the chance to make things better for them.

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Are you inspired by Pippa’s quick action to save David’s life? Do you want to be ready for any emergency? Pippa is raising awareness and helping more people learn life-saving CPR. You can take the free, online REVIVR training today.