Inquiry hears Bayoh sighted holding knife

A nurse who was scared by a man with a knife tried to save his life in hospital later on after he was restrained by police officers, an inquiry has heard.

Sheku Bayoh died on May 3 2015 after he was detained by officers in Kirkcaldy, and Linda Limbert told the inquiry into his death that as she drove to work at Victoria Hospital, he approached her car in Hayfield Road.

She said she was “very frightened”, and told Angela Grahame QC, the inquiry’s senior counsel: “He was charging at my car with his arms flailing about.”

Ms Limbert said she saw him with a knife in his hand, and as he approached the car she drove off, then called 999 in nearby Hendry Road.

Later that morning, Mr Bayoh was sent to the resuscitation unit and Ms Limbert was one of the medical staff who fought to save his life. When the 31-year-old arrived in hospital he was handcuffed and unresponsive, she said, and had ongoing CPR from ambulance and police at the scene. She said she could not recall any injuries sustained by him, but said CPR and gaining IV access can cause injuries.

Earlier, Alan Pearson, who was driving with his wife in his car when Mr Bayoh was first seen in Templehall Avenue at around 7am, told the inquiry that his wife “saw a man walking along the street with what appeared to be a knife in his hand”.

“She says to me: ‘That guy’s got a knife,’ and I thought: ‘Don’t be daft, it’s 7am on Sunday morning.”’

After Mr Pearson dropped his wife off at his sister-in-law’s house, he saw the man in Hayfield Place apparently trying to stop a taxi, which sped off.

“When he turned around he put his hands out, palms up, that’s when I saw what looked like a knife in his right hand,” he said.

Mr Pearson turned and drove in a different direction, then called 999.

He said the knife was “maybe six or seven inches” but could not recognise a knife that was shown in evidence as he saw Mr Bayoh only from a distance.

Dashcam and mobile phone footage played in the court showed Mr Bayoh walking in the street with vehicles turning around in front on him.

Simon Rowe, a taxi driver, said he saw Mr Bayoh carrying a knife, from about 20 metres. He told Ms Grahame Mr Bayoh was “walking with purpose”.

The inquiry, before Lord Bracadale, continues.

ENCOUNTER: Nurse Linda Limbert, who was scared by Sheku Bayoh, later treated him.

Sheku Bayoh.