Edwin Percy Cook

Died

7 October 1927

Age

Rank

Police Constable

Force

Metropolitan Police

Cause

Other

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Died after being overcome by gas as he attempted to rescue two men who had collapsed in a sewer.

Roll of Honour Citation

Died after being overcome by gas as he attempted to rescue two men who had collapsed in a sewer.

Circumstances

Two men employed by the Notting Hill Electrical Light Company were in Addison Avenue looking for a manhole. They made enquiry with a shopkeeper who pointed out the only one he knew of but informed them it was a 'dead sewer'. Pressing on the men lifted the cover and one entered by the steps, apparently overcome by gas he then fell into the water. The second man immediately when to his aid but also collapsed. The shopkeeper called the police and Constable Cook arrived, placed a handkerchief around his mouth and went to rescue both men. Firemen had been sent for, they arrived and wearing gas masks they brought all three men back up with both the Electrical men dead and Constable Cook barely breathing. An ambulance conveyed Constable Cook to hospital but he died en route.

The two men, employed by the Notting Hill Electrical Light Company, were in Addison Avenue looking for a manhole. They made an enquiry with a shopkeeper who pointed out the only one he knew but informed them that it was a ‘dead sewer’. Pressing on the men lifted the cover and one entered by the steps but, overcome by gas, he then fell into the water. The second man immediately went to his aid but also collapsed. The shopkeeper called the police and PC Cook arrived, placed a handkerchief around his mouth and went to rescue both men. Firemen then arrived and, wearing gas masks, brought all three men out but the two men were dead and PC Cook was barely breathing. An ambulance was called to take him to hospital but he died en route.