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Hero police officer visits hospital which saved his life

An heroic police officer who nearly died after he was mowed down by a car thief has thanked the hospital staff who saved his life.

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PC Gaz Phillips with Perry Bear, Ann O'Meara and Hannah Nicholls at Birmingham's QE Hospital

Police constable Gaz Phillips visited Queens Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, this month where he handed over £1,500 - which he raised through selling pin badges during his recovery - as a show of appreciation for the life-saving efforts of doctors and nurses.

The 43-year-old underwent three operations, including a life-saving one, last year after Mubashar Hussain drove over him in an unmarked police car on August 10.

Pc Phillips, who has worked at West Midlands Police for 19 years, was left with a head injury and internal bleeding, while his spine was left detached from his shattered pelvis.

The incident happened as he and officers tried to arrest two men in a stolen Range Rover in Birmingham.

Pc Phillips said: "It’s a bit strange [coming back to the hospital], the first time I’ve been here for 12 months where I’ve not been operated on or treated.

"It’s nice to meet the staff again. It’s lovely to give the money over to the hospital charity."

The money was in aid of the hospital's critical care department.

Critical care sister Ann O’Meara added: "I looked after Gareth when he first came in, so straight after surgery when he was sedated and ventilated, so it was just really great to see him progress.

"It’s just fabulous to see him today looking so well.

"Any donation is fantastic. It will just mean we can buy stuff that will be beneficial for the patients and the staff and make their stay in hospital a bit easier and a bit nicer.

"We’re so grateful to the people who donated [by buying the pin badges]. It means a lot to the people who work here."

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The pin badges were of the mascot of Central Motorway Police Group - the department at West Midlands Police which Pc Phillips works for.

Car thief Hussain, who had four previous convictions for crimes involving dangerous driving, was jailed for 12 years last October.

Birmingham Crown Court was told Hussain was Tasered at the wheel of a stolen Range Rover but struggled past officers into a police car, ran over Pc Phillips, and then sped away at up to 97mph.

The court heard the 29-year-old was apprehended by armed police in Sparkbrook after being tracked by a helicopter.

The court was told Hussain was wearing a balaclava when he reversed the 4x4 away from an arriving police car, while his accomplice Ahsan Ghafoor threw a house brick.

Ghafoor, 24, of Fulham Road, Sparkhill, was jailed for 28 months after admitting two counts of car theft and three driving offences including dangerous driving, having no insurance and driving other than in accordance with a licence.

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