Sheffield man describes ‘dragging’ female police officer to safety after ‘frenzied’ axe attack

The female officer remains in hospital with serious injuries

Police at the scene in Plowright Close, Sheffield, where a female officer has suffered "multiple serious injuries" and four male officers were also hurt during an incident involving a man reportedly armed with an axe (PA)

A man has described how he helped drag an injured police officer to safety from a “frenzied” attack by a man wielding an axe.

The female officer, who remains in hospital with serious injuries, was one of five officers wounded while responding to reports of a “domestic incident” in the Gleadless area of Sheffield on Wednesday night.

Nathan Sumner, 35, of Plowright Close, has been charged with the attempted murder of the female officer as well as number of other offences in connection with the incident.

The female officer, who has not been named, lost a finger when she was attacked with a hatchet. She also suffered a fractured skull and a broken leg.

Simon Ellis, a resident of Plowright Close in Gleadless, came to the officer’s aid after witnessing the attack in which she allegedly pleaded desperately for help.

Eyewitness Simon Ellis dragged the female police officer to safety after she suffered "multiple serious injuries" in the attack (PA)

Mr Ellis told Sky News: “The lady police officer, who’s been injured the most, came half-staggering, half-falling out of the stairwell pursued by this big bloke, this bodybuilder, with an axe.

“It was a frenzied attack, chopping at her with an axe. She was on the floor with her baton up, pleading for somebody to help her, to stop him hurting her. “

The man fled from the scene when a male officer arrived, after which Mr Ellis, unable to carry the injured officer, dragged her into his flat.

“She said ‘He’s going to finish me off, he’s going to kill me, you’re going to have to get me out of here. Drag me, drag me.’ So I dragged her by her body armour with blood pouring out everywhere.”

A Co-op store in Blackstock Road, Sheffield, where a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder (PA)

Mr Ellis said paramedics attended to the officer in his hallway for more than an hour.

Deputy Chief Constable Dawn Copley said: “The officers who attended in Gleadless last night were faced with an extremely dangerous situation and showed immense bravery dealing with a violent individual.

“Our thoughts are with those who were injured on duty and full welfare support has been put in place for all officers affected.”

The female officer was the most seriously hurt of five police officers injured in the attack, which began at a flat. The incident culminated in a nearby Co-op store where the suspect was subdued by officers using batons and a Taser.

In addition to attempted murder, Sumner also faces seven counts of assault by beating, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of making threats to kill, affray, threatening to kill a person with a blade in a public place and the production of cannabis.

Sumner will appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Additional reporting by Press Association