PC David Rathband profile - Telegraph He married Kath, a nurse, and the couple lived in Northumberland with their son Ashley, 19, and younger daughter Mia. PC Rathband was alone in his patrol car on the A1 Western bypass in Newcastle. He had been urged to take care in a text message from his wife just minutes before Moat appeared at his window with a double-barrelled shotgun. The unarmed police officer was left with more than 200 pellets lodged in his face after Moat fired through the passenger window. He lost his sight in both eyes. As he adapted to his blindness, PC Rathband became an active campaigner and fund-raiser for those injured on duty for the emergency services. He set up the Blue Lamp Foundation, which counted Duncan Bannatyne and Carold Vorderman as its patrons, and wrote a book called Tango 190 about his experience. In November 2010, he won a Pride of Britain award. He had continued to undergo operations to remove pieces of shrapnel from his face but was in constant pain. He also faced difficulties in his private life, announcing his separation from Kath last November. PC Rathband had recently visited his brother Darren in Australia. On February 25, he had described on Twitter a "very emotional few days, but back on track." His brother was flying to the UK after his death and urged the public to support the Blue Lamp Foundation.