Sister of grandmother killed by police motorcyclist tells of last hug

‘If we hadn’t had a hug, maybe she’d be alive’: Sister of great-grandmother, 81, killed by Duchess of Edinburgh’s police escort motorcyclist tells of ‘loving goodbye’ hours before – and insists she would have waited for green man before crossing road

• Dorothy Phillips, 88, said her sister Helen Holland, 81, was very ‘street-savvy’  
• Read more: Family of great-grandmother blame motorbike outriders who hit her

The sister of a great-grandmother who died after being hit by a police motorcycle travelling with the Duchess of Edinburgh has shared details of her final moments with her sibling before the crash. 

Helen Holland, 81, clung on to life for nearly two weeks before the agonising decision was made to turn off her life support machine on Tuesday May 23. 

She had been out to lunch with her sister, Dorothy Phillips, 88, on May 10, sharing a quiche and laughing about their teenage years before the siblings shared a poignant goodbye hug and began their travels home separately. 

But just minutes later, at 3.20 in the afternoon, Mrs Holland, a mother-of-four, grandmother-of-ten and great-grandmother-of-seven, was hit at a pedestrian crossing on the busy West Cromwell Road in south west London by a police motorbike. 

Mrs Phillips, who has lived in nearby Earl’s Court for 45 years, said she did not discover that her sister had been knocked down until hours later, when she phoned her home in Birchanger, Essex, to make sure she had got home safely. 

Mrs Holland clung on to life for nearly two weeks before the agonising decision was made to turn off her life support machine on Tuesday May 23

Dorothy said her younger sister was well aware of the risks presented by the busy three-lane route in Earl’s Court. Dorothy is pictured today paying tribute to her sibling 

Mrs Holland was ‘flung 40ft’ by the officer’s motorbike, which was escorting Sophie through west London on May 10

She told The Times that her ‘street-savvy sister’ would have been careful to wait for the green man at the pedestrian crossing, which shows for 13 seconds at a time on the 30mph stretch. 

Read more: Family of great-grandmother, 81, who died after she was hit by Duchess of Edinburgh’s cop escort blame motorbike outriders who ‘endanger the public’ – as they visit spot where she was killed 

‘We both knew it isn’t an easy crossing and she was very careful, even more careful than I am and absolutely aware. 

‘Fitter than a 60-year-old and she knew exactly what she was doing. She was perfectly mobile and fit.’

She described the siblings’ loving goodbye, adding: ‘We did have a hug, and that’s awful for me because I feel if we hadn’t had a hug maybe she’d be alive, but then I wouldn’t know.’

Witness Diana Catera, 68, who lives on nearby Nevern Road, said she was getting into her car in a disabled bay when the motorbike went through a red light.  

A second witness told a local Liberal Democrat councillor, Linda Wade, that Mrs Holland had been crossing the road on the green man signal.  

Mrs Holland suffered fatal injuries in the crash and fell into a coma at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. 

‘Every bone in her body was broken . . . and all her organs. She had no kidney function. She was on every support there was possible. 

‘She was just broken into bits. The doctors and nurses were wonderful and at the end of it they were all crying with us,’ Mrs Phillips described. 

Mrs Phillips wants rules to be introduced about how prominent figures – known as ‘principals’ are transported, to keep others safe. 

Dorothy, the 88-year-old sister of Helen Holland, with Helen’s daughter-in-law Lisa-Marie  placing flowers on West Cromwell Road in west London, where her younger sister was hit by a police motorbike escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh 

Mrs Holland died after being hit by a police motorcycle escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through Earl’s Court

‘I know that Helen would want me to say something. She would say: “Don’t let this happen to any other family like this”. 

Chief Superintendent Richard Smith, who is head of the Met’s royalty and specialist protection unit, said officers worked to serve the public and keep people safe and that: ‘This tragic outcome continues to be felt by colleagues across the Met. Our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones at this very sad time.’ 

Escorts for VIPs will drive ahead and ‘hold’ junctions before the cars follow. Mrs Holland’s death is the first to be associated with the special escort group, although in 2019 riders with the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hit Irene Mayor, 83, who suffered a broken leg, pelvis and arm and a head injury. 

Other family members have previously slammed police for the smash, with Mrs Holland’s grieving son Martin declaring in May: ‘It’s not Sophie’s fault. We don’t blame her – the police did it.’

The heartbroken 57-year-old added: ‘This is not anti-royal, no way. My mother loved the royals.’

Mr Holland, a project director for a building firm, has been calling for reforms to police escorts since the horrifying collision.

Mrs Holland’s son Martin lashed out at the Met Police over the collision which happened on May 10 

Ms Holland’s grieving son Martin sought to show his support for Sophie Wessex, the Duchess of Edingburgh, as he declared: ‘It’s not Sophie’s fault’

He said: ‘It’s outriders going at high speed to stop traffic at lights [before the VIP sweeps through]. They’ve got to think of a better way.

‘I know the royals need to be protected but they need to do it so it doesn’t endanger the public.’ 

An IOPC investigation has been opened into the crash and a spokesman said investigators have reviewed body-worn camera footage and were looking at CCTV. 

Last week it was announced that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has told the Met motorcyclist, a constable, that they face criminal investigation for offences including causing death by dangerous driving and potential gross misconduct. 

The officer in question has been placed in a ‘non-public facing role’.  

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