Exclusive Officer Attacked Tackling Crooks LINK

 

A POLICEMAN hero of the Glasgow terror attack has been blinded by crooks while trying to stop a break-in.

 

Torquil Campbell was sprayed with burning liquid and now faces surgery. He was rescuing the grandad of pop star Darius Danesh. Victim Colin Campbell is Torquil's neighbour in Renfrew. Sergeant Campbell, 49, has been off work since he tackled the gang trying to enter the 83-year-old's house.

 

He managed to stop the break-in but the gang - dressed in dark clothes and balaclavas - fled.

 

A friend revealed yesterday the brave officer is still unable to see out of his left eye properly.

 

He said: "His vision remains extremely blurred and he's been told he may have to go under the knife."

 

Doctors are hopeful of a full recovery but his pal added: "They are not putting money on the table on that one. They do think it will get better but it will be a longterm thing."

 

The attack happened nearly two weeks after Torquil had been due to retire - but he had agreed to stay on until summer.

 

The friend revealed: "He could now face surgery to repair the damage.

 

"He is being treated at a specialist eye unit in Glasgow. They are talking about transplanting cells from one eye to the other to help it heal." Doctors have so far been unable to identify the corrosive substance thrown in Torquil's face.

 

The injury was made worse when one of the raiders punched him in the eye as he tackled them. Torquil suffered serious damage to his blood vessels in the attack four weeks ago.

 

The officer was one of 11 people to be jointly given Sunday Mail Great Scot awards last year for helping to foil the Glasgow Airport suicide bomb attacks.

 

A police insider said: "It is typical of Torquil that he put his own safety to one side when he spotted the gang.

 

"There is an irony that he was more seriously injured tackling the housebreakers than the airport bombers.

 

They must have been going to use this liquid on anybody inside."

 

Modest Torquil had a key role in stopping the airport bombing - but shunned the limelight in the aftermath of the attack on June 30 last year.

 

He used CS gas to overcome bomber Kafeel Ahmed, who later died.

 

Campbell and his fellow heroes, including Michael Kerr and John Smeaton, were praised by First Minister Alex Salmond at a reception in August.

 

Darius yesterday praised the man who saved his grandad.

 

The 27-year-old singer said: "The policeman acted above and beyond the call of duty and the whole family is very grateful.

 

We're all relieved but very sorry that the officer was injured.

 

"My grandfather is lucky to have such a brave and courageous neighbour.

 

"I'm sure he saved my grandfather from a similar injury or worse."

 

Darius' dad, retired surgeon Booth Danesh, added:

 

"Thank goodness Colin wasn't hurt. It's dreadful that people would take advantage of an old person but sadly that's the world we live in today.

 

"The neighbour, bless him, saw some people waiting around. He was a policeman and went to check.

 

"They sprayed him with some kind of substance but they didn't get into the house and ran away."

 

Colin, father of Darius' GP mum Avril, was inside his home but unaware of the drama outside. Balaclavas

 

Torquil declined to comment yesterday but Strathclyde Police said: "The off-duty officer challenged the three men, who appeared to be wearing balaclavas, and they sprayed a liquid into his face.

 

"The men did not gain entry to the house. Our inquiries are continuing."

 

Stephen Clarkson, 41, another hero of the airport attacks, recently suffered a brain haemorrhage.

 

He collapsed at his mother's home two weeks ago and is now facing life-saving surgery.

 

Stephen was visited in hospital by hero baggage handler John Smeaton.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the report claire.

It is worrying when old people live alone. I just can't understand how anyone can target the vulnerable like that. Thank goodness for people like his neighbour - I sincerely wish him well. It shows that not all people are rotten.

Edited January 14, 200817 yr by megham

What a brave guy. I know he's a policeman and trained to deal with extraordinary circumstances but IMHO it takes even more courage to act alone when you're outnumbered and know how dangerous it might be . I hope his recovery will be complete.

 

The sad thing is that thugs are targeting the vulnerable every single day in the UK. Worrying too is that more of these housebreakers,muggers etc. seem to carry some form of weapon with intent to use it at least to intimidate their victims and more often than not, because they're carrying something , they end up using it if/when they get in a panic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sickenly, this week there was a robbery in a jeweller's store in the main jewellery retail covered street in Glasgow and the assailants threw burning liquid in the female assistant's eyes.

 

What kind of a person would set out to do that to another human being?

 

 

A theif with no concience. Decent people wouldn't be stealing in the foirst place. Life and health is shown to be cheap every day in the papers and on TV