'I Can't Believe I Survived': Officer's Harrowing Account of Knife Attack"

Three Merseyside officers nominated for bravery awards after confronting a knife-wielding man

Every police officer starts their day with a silent understanding that is often pondered before the beginning of each shift: danger can emerge from any call. For three Merseyside officers, that danger on the Thin Blue Line came in the form of a knife-wielding man in December 2022, changing their lives forever and exemplifying the extraordinary bravery police bring to their roles every day. Bravery that is often ignored by the mainstream media but not by us!

A Night of Unimaginable Courage

PCs Ian Hide, John Rimmer, and Nathan Beavin (Merseyside Police) were on plain-clothes duty on December 5, 2022, when two distressed members of the public approached them. A man, later identified as 35-year-old Thomas McComish, had threatened them with a carving knife. Without hesitation, the officers sprang into action to locate the armed and dangerous suspect.

It was not long before the officers found the knife-wielding man.

---

---

They tried to engage with him but, as if often the case, the situation escalated suddenly and without warning when McComish lunged at PC Hide with the large kitchen knife. He started his relentless attack on the police officers. Despite sustaining a broken wrist while defending himself, PC Hide continued to protect the public and his colleagues.

The life or death struggle intensified as McComish targeted PC Rimmer, stabbing twice at his left side. Miraculously, PC Rimmer's handcuffs absorbed the force of the blade, sparing him serious injury and perhaps even saving his life.

Remember, these brave police officers were not armed.

All they had was their pepper spray and a short metal stick. It is not clear from the report released by the Police Federation if the officers had tasers or if the incident was caught on body-worn camera. If the incident was caught on BWC or CCTV, the footage should be released with the officers' permission. The general public needs to understand the real dangers police officers face every time they leave their families to start their shifts.

---

---

The officers disarmed McComish through sheer determination and teamwork and brought him to the ground. The danger he posed was neutralised, and the public was spared from further harm. McComish was later sentenced to 11 years in prison for his actions.

When you consider that McComish could be out in 6 years, and when you consider what could have happened, it makes you wonder where the priorities of the criminal justice system lie. Surely someone as dangerous as McComish, who seemed not to care if he took the lives of any emergency workers on that day, should be behind bars for decades.

For PC Hide, the incident was life-altering.

"It was a job that, as a police officer, you pray you never have to go to," he reflected. "It will stay with me for the rest of my life. I can't believe I survived."

---

Have a story or video you’d like us to cover? Share it with our team of experienced former emergency services and armed forces personnel at contact@emergency-services.news – we’d love to hear from you!

---

Recognising Heroism

The bravery displayed by PCs Hide, Rimmer, and Beavin has earned them nominations for the prestigious Police Bravery Awards 2024. Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy praised their courage, stating:

"Their actions directly led to the detention of an armed man intent on hurting the public and officers. They are a credit to their profession."

Chris McGlade, Chair of the Merseyside Police Federation, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the selflessness of the officers in protecting the public at great personal risk.

The Hidden Costs of Public Service on the Thin Blue Line