On 4th July 2010, PC David Rathband was a normal policeman out doing his job. Everyone was on a higher alert because there was a killer on the loose with a shotgun. Raoul Moat, who had recently been released from prison had killed his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend the day before and his force were out looking for him.

Several other people lost their lives as a result of Raoul Moat on that day, some it is believed he sought out and others were in the wrong place at the wrong time. PC David Rathband could have fallen into either of those two camps because Raoul Moat had a real hatred for policeman and had stated earlier that day that he was "hunting for officers" but David Rathband had also previously arrested him in error for the theft of a van but, that day he was sitting alone in his patrol car, unarmed, when Raoul Moat, who later killed himself on the 10th of July, crept up and blasted him in the face with his sawn off shotgun leaving over 200 pellets embedded in his skull.

PC David Rathband's injuries were horrific and although he had an operation to try and save his sight, he was permanently blinded and spent several weeks in hospital. He surprised people by the way that he respondedby saying "I'm just a policeman and a person very proud to be a policeman and that's one of the things that keeps me going, I want to get back to a job that I enjoyed doing."

While still recovering he set up the Blue Lamp Foundation to help members of the emergency services who were injured by a criminal act while at work. The charity was to be there to give any help where needed from something as small as paying car parking fees for relatives visiting injured loved ones in hospital to providing necessary equipment for their new lives. He was seen as survivor and a true fighter.

He then went on to train for and run the London Marathon to raise money for his charity, he attended many events as a speaker and although he showed this brave face to the world he was very angry inside and this became apparent when he spoke after the trials of Karl Ness and Qhuram 'Sean' Awan who were found guilty of helping Raoul Moat and of his own attempted murder. He said "These two individuals, along with the other coward who wasn't man enough to stay here, have taken my job from me."

In November he had a further set back when he announced that he and his wife were separating. Despite spending time with his twin brother in Australia he was still obviously depressed on his return. He was still waiting to go back to work, it has been said that the Police were working him with him to enable him to return to work in April but as he had already waited 20 months to get back to work, if this had been true, I'm sure he could have waited just one more.

It is reported that PC Rathband had recently tweeted to say “lost my sight, my job, my wife and my marriage” and “flying back on Monday and will say goodbye to my children”. Northumbria police then started to receive several messages from people that were getting concerned over his state of mind and one said. “I think someone needs to intervene with David Rathband, his tweets are becoming worrying.”

PC David Rathband was found dead late on 29th February 2012 and no-one was been sought in connection with his death. In the word's on PC David Rathburn in one of his last tweets. "RIP PC Rathband".