very sad.

Thanks for posting this longcat.  I am not ashamed to say that I shed a tear this morning when I found this out.  What a horrible tragic end to the life of a decent proud man.  I did hear that his wife left him before Christmas, and if she did, then although I don't think it's ethical to stay with someone you no longer have feelings for, I can't help but think 'heartless bitch.'  

This man lost just about everything, including his SIGHT FFS, and she left him.  Obviously he thought he had nothing else to live for.  I know it's easy to judge when you haven't walked in someone else's shoes, but I can't envisage ever, EVER leaving my husband if he became disabled and needed care.  Seems to me that he became a bit of an inconvenience to her.

Felt very sad this morning when i heard the news. 
Hope he is at peace now  

Such sad news 

I think he confirmed in a newspaper article that it was actually him that left her after she got alot of abuse on the internet 

I had heard that Aimee.  

Such a shame 

it's coming back to me now, he was arrested after his son phoned the police after his dad hit her and then the chargers were dropped, he then moved out to a place of his own 

Very sad 

It must have been so difficult for him to cope with not only losing his sight but his marriage and his life as he knew it. Poor man. 

Rest in peace David.  

He battered her ,we don't know the whole truth.

Poor guy - my thoughts are with him - he was only 44

I drove past the fly-over where he was shot that morning

So many Police were there - i knew it must be bad

About a week later Moat (or was it his mates) robbed the fish n chip shop near where i used to work

I was terrified on nightshift

Very, very sad RIP PC Rathband

How very sad for all involved

Police chiefs were today asked to explain why an officer blinded in the line of duty was not given more support from his force after repeated cries for help just before his suspected suicide.

Pc David Rathband, who was shot in the face by crazed gunman Raoul Moat, was found dead at his home just days after sending a worrying tweet about his own death.

The married father-of-two, who had been left with more than 200 shotgun pellets lodged in his skull, had repeatedly revealed how he was struggling to cope after fugitive Moat shot him at close range in July 2010.

His body was discovered in Blyth, Northumberland, just after 7pm last night, after officers received a report of concern for his welfare. Today questions were raised over whether Pc Rathband received enough support from Northumbria police after losing his sight.

TV producer Michael Winner, chairman of the Police Memorial Trust, said: "There is no great support for these people in my experience. "I also know from dealing with the families of police officers that not many get the support from the police or anybody else after the event."

Mr Winner, who was in touch with Pc Rathband following his injury, added: "You can always do more and the police could learn from this but I'm not sure what more they could have done other than send round counsellors and psychiatrists. But after these people leave, he is still alone and his situation has not changed."

In a BBC interview last September Pc Rathband revealed how he was struggling to adapt to losing his sight and couldn't imagine life past "the next 12 months".

Last November, the 44-year-old announced on Twitter that he had split from his wife Kath, 41, after 20 years.

This weekend he had flown back to the UK after a four-week trip to Australia where he had surgery to remove pieces of shrapnel from his face. He had spent time with his brother Darren, who lives in the country.

Only hours before he was due to fly home he revealed on Twitter that final efforts to rescue his marriage had failed. He also tweeted "I've lost my sight, my job, my wife and my marriage', and wrote: "Flying back on Monday and will say goodbye to my children."

He also tweeted: "RIP Pc Rathband."

Jenny Jones,  who is a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said: "He was clearly really, really emotional and I find it difficult to believe the police force did not know this. They have a duty of care towards officers and former officers. It does demonstrate how you have to be more aware for those in need of help after they have been hurt."

Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "desperately sorry" for the family of Pc Rathband, adding he was "extremely sad". He also paid tribute to "an extraordinarily brave man".

Following his attack, the policeman launched his own charity, the Blue Lamp Foundation, which aims to help emergency service personnel injured in the line of duty.

A spokeswoman for the foundation said: "David struggled to come to terms with his horrific injuries. It was David's wish that those who found themselves in a similar position to him could receive the support that wasn't available to him at the time."

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Sue Sim said she was "deeply saddened" by the death of Pc Rathband, a "dedicated officer" who showed "outstanding bravery in what was a terrifying situation".

So very tragic.

RIP PC Rathband.

I have shed several tears about David, but I did think that this maybe the ultimate outcome.

Yep! Very, very sad

Maybe there was a bit more to it? We can all have an opinion but ................who knows what the relationship was like? Who knows how tormented he was?

             It is very very sad as peeps are saying 

Just so sad for all concerned

Awful to think that lives can be changed and devastated in the space of a few seconds of madness.

Indeed sooz ... poor man, and his family 

Quite Sooz.

I know what you're saying Sparkles but the way I see it, maybe both of them couldn't cope with what happened afterwards? He was suddenly in the 'limelight' seemed as if he was 'apparently' strong and resilient in the face of adversity, in the public domain..and maybe too much that way at home? Then it all became too much..I wouldn't judge either of them tbh, just bloody sad

This was Davids last interview. Its so sad.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/ho...-like-Voldemort.html

How sad . How tragic.

Hi Soops.  I have read further on this and apparently, David got quite angry and a bit aggressive at times, (understandably after what happened,) so I think she felt she couldn't cope.  (That's why I said if she DID leave him for another man like I heard.)  So I do take back anything negative I said or implied about her as it must have been hard on her too, but much harder for him.  Poor poor tragic man.