Senior Constable Liam Trimmer and nurse Lilly Watts were celebrating with friends on Saturday night when he fell and cut his neck in a “freak accident”.
Emergency services fought to save the 29-year-old but he died from his injuries.
In an online fundraiser launched yesterday, Melinda Kelly, who described herself as an old friend, said Watts was almost 14 weeks pregnant and facing the prospect of raising the child without her “soulmate”.
“The evening was meant to be a joyous celebration of Lilly and Liam’s recent engagement and announcing their pregnancy, a huge milestone in their journey together,” the fellow nurse wrote.
“Friends and family gathered to share in their happiness.
“In a cruel twist of events, Liam’s life was cut short leaving behind a void that can never be filled.”
Kelly said the money, which was more than $75,000 late last night, would help Watts pay for counselling, daily living costs and preparing for the birth.
She said her university friend was also dealing with the financial responsibilities of homeownership.
“Lilly’s resilience and unwavering spirit have always been her defining qualities, and now, more than ever, she needs our love and support,” she said.
Trimmer, a Gang Crime Squad and the tactical response group, moved to Australia from the UK, graduated from Joondalup Police Academy in 2013 and moved to Kalgoorlie in 2017.
“This extraordinary officer loved helping the community, was a fine example of WA policing and it’s such a tragedy,” Police Commissioner Col Blanch said.
“A very, very confident, capable young man with his whole life ahead of him, and that’s how sad this is.”
