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Colleagues pay tribute to police officer killed on A249

Emergency services at the scene of the crash on the A249. Picture: Barry Crayford
Emergency services at the scene of the crash on the A249. Picture: Barry Crayford

Emergency services at the
scene of the fatality. Picture: Barry Crayford

PC Philip Pratt
PC Philip Pratt

Colleagues have been paying tribute to police
officer Philip Pratt who died when he was struck by a vehicle
on the A249.

PC Pratt was putting traffic diversions in place at the dual
carriageway's junction with the A2 at Bobbing, near Sittingbourne
when the incident happened at around 8am Sunday.

Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Leppard said on Monday: "Philip
was 26 years old with his whole life ahead of him and that is what
makes this all the more tragic.

"He died representing everything we stand for. He was serving
in the line of duty trying to protect the public. His loss will not
just be felt by us in Kent but the service nationally. Our thoughts
are now with his friends and family."

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Watch the full
statement from Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Leppard

Map showing the scene of the fatality on the A249 on Sunday, June 14. Graphic: James Norris
Map showing the scene of the fatality on the A249 on Sunday, June 14. Graphic: James Norris

An investigation is
under way after the incident. Mr Leppard said he could not comment
further on that investigation.

Kent Police Chief Constable Mike Fuller has also paid tribute
to PC Pratt, describing him as "a dedicated officer".

He added: "His enthusiasm and ability won him praise from
colleagues and members of the public.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and
friends at this tragic time."

PC Philip Pratt - who was based at Sittingbourne - was
treated by paramedics at the scene before being airlifted to the
Royal London Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after
arrival.

An air ambulance lands to take the male victim to a London hospital. Picture: Barry Crayford
An air ambulance lands to take the male victim to a London hospital. Picture: Barry Crayford

He was working to
divert traffic after a crash nearby around half an hour earlier. A
woman was cut free from the wreckage of an overturned car
on the Sheerness-bound stretch. She was taken to hospital with non
life-threatening injuries.

A driver who was on the scene shortly after the first accident
happened has told how she talked to the 21-year-old woman.

The witness, who did not want to be named, said although she
didn't see the accident, she was right behind it and was on the
scene before paramedics and police arrived.

She said: "We saw four of the five people crawl out of the car -
they were very distressed. I went to the aid of the girl trapped in
the car, I held her hand and was trying to keep her talking. It was
pretty scary."

The witness also said that she didn't see PC Pratt get hit by
the car - but saw him in the road afterwards. "We went past the
scene as we were moved on - it was not a nice sight to see," she
said.

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