Face of the policeman poisoned in spy horror
Relaxing with a pint, spy and his daughter
‘He’s a massively dedicated officer’
But policeman exposed to killer substance as he rushed to help is now sitting up
THE police officer exposed to the deadly nerve agent was one of 21 people treated for poisoning in the assassination attempt, it emerged last night.
Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, 38, a married father of two, was hailed a hero for desperately trying to save the life of former spy Sergei Skripal’s daughter without protective clothing.
He remained in a serious condition in intensive care last night and was said to be ‘anxious’, although his brother-in-law said the officer was sitting up and texting family.
Former double agent Mr Skripal, 66, who passed secrets to Britain while working for Russian intelligence, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remained in a critical condition in hospital last night.
One line of inquiry is that the nerve agent was developed in a Russian laboratory before being transported by a would-be assassin in a sealed container to Britain.
Counter-terrorism officers believe Mr Skripal could have been infected hours before he showed symptoms. The agent used is not thought to be the widely-known Sarin, VX or Novichok but a substance described by Whitehall sources as ‘exotic’.
Hamish de Bretton- Gordon, ex- commander of the Army’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear regiment, said: ‘This was quite clearly a very professional operation. These things are made in big government laboratories. It reduces in toxicity over time so if it was made in Russia two weeks ago then by the time it was administered its effectiveness would be reduced significantly.’
Det Sgt Bailey, a highly-regarded officer who has two young children with his wife Sarah, 37, was one of the first on the scene of the suspected Kremlin-backed attack in Salisbury city centre on Sunday.
He was responding to a routine call about what was initially believed to be two drunks acting strangely on a bench – but arrived to find Mr Skripal and his daughter slumped on a bench in a ‘catatonic’ state. A passer-by who saw Det Sgt Bailey tending to Miss Skripal on the ground said he put her in the recovery position.
‘He was down on the ground very close to her, trying to talk to her,’ the witness said. ‘He was definitely touching her, he had no protective clothing on – not even a hat.’
It was not until later that day that fears were raised that the pair had been poisoned.
Yesterday, pictures emerged of the father and daughter drinking in Salisbury pubs. In one, Mr Skripal and Yulia smile with a pint and a glass of wine.
Det Sgt Bailey was initially discharged from hospital before being readmitted to intensive care when his symptoms deteriorated. His brother-in-law Dominic Phillips, 46, who is married to Det Sgt Bailey’s sister Lucy, said: ‘I don’t know how much he remembers but he has been doing better, he has been texting my wife saying, “I’m OK”.’ Mrs Bailey was said to be too upset to speak last night.
Wiltshire Police’s temporary Chief Constable Kier Pritchard, who visited Det Sgt Bailey yesterday, said he was ‘massively proud’ of him. ‘I’ve known Nick for many years, he’s a great character, he’s a huge presence in Wiltshire Police – well liked, well loved, a massively dedicated officer,’ he added. Acting Chief Con Pritchard said a total of 21 people had been treated for poisoning, although only three – Mr Skripal, his daughter, and Det Sgt Bailey – remained in hospital. He added: ‘A number of those have been through the hospital treatment process. They are having blood tests, support and advice.’
The Prime Minister also praised Det Sgt Bailey’s actions. She said: ‘My thoughts are with Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey – one of the first responders – who remains in a serious condition in hospital.’
Det Sgt Bailey joined the force in 2002 at 17. In 2016, he was awarded a Chief Constable’s certificate of excellence for work that jailed a serial sex attacker. Yesterday, ambulances were seen around Mr Skripal’s house and five forensic tents were put up in his Salisbury cul-desac. Police also sealed off the gravestone of Mr Skripal’s wife Liudmila, who was buried in 2012, and the memorial stone of his son, Alexander, who was cremated last year, at a Salisbury cemetery. Yesterday, officers also went to Ashley Wood Recovery in Salisbury to examine a maroon BMW-3 series, the same car driven by the former spy.