Neighbors of a police officer who died at his engagement party have revealed the celebration was loud and boisterous – until it suddenly ended in blood-curdling screams after 5am.
British-born Senior Constable Liam Trimmer, 29, and his fiancée Lilly Watts threw a raucous party at their home in Perth, Western Australia, on Sunday night.
In addition to celebrating their engagement, the couple also announced to loved ones that they were expecting their first child.
But the happy moment ended in tragedy when Mr Trimmer fell and severed a carotid artery in his neck, killing him almost instantly.
Ms Watts – who is 14 weeks pregnant – told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that her fiance ‘will always be the love of my life and our baby will know the wonderful man he was’.
Now neighbors in the small community have recalled being kept awake by the loud music from the party the night of the tragedy.
They said they heard men speaking into a megaphone in the couple’s backyard before women began screaming in terror as the situation unfolded.
Liam Trimmer is pictured with his fiancée Lilly Watts. They were excited about the birth of their first child when he died on Sunday
Sir. Trimmer collapsed at home in Perth (pictured) at her own engagement party on Sunday
A neighbor said: ‘We don’t know what happened but they were outside and one of the boys was talking on a megaphone at 8am. 1am, the music was loud, then the screams and then nothing.
‘We heard screams coming from girls – like huge, loud screams.
‘We figured something might have happened, you know maybe someone fell or got hurt.’
Another said the music was so loud she considered calling the police to file a noise complaint.
She said: ‘I’m new to the area so I didn’t want to be a party pooper but it was close to 1am on a Monday morning, it sounded like there were more than 50 people there.’
An elderly couple who live across the road from Ms Watts and Mr Trimmer said they also heard noise from the party and were glad when it stopped.
“We didn’t think much of it, but we noticed the police leaving the following day with ‘a van full of stuff,'” the woman said.
The cause of Mr Trimmer’s accident has not been confirmed.
Ms Watts is a nurse and the guests at the party were mostly police officers and health workers who did everything they could to save his life but his injuries were too serious.
Lilly Watts is pictured in Perth during a short trip with her family
Watts’ mother Channy (pictured left, with her daughter) did not want to comment on the tragedy
The Watts family were seen walking their dog in local streets on Wednesday, with the young mother-to-be wearing her engagement ring.
Earlier that day, Ms Watts’ close friend Mel Kelly created one GoFundMe page to raise money for the single mother.
The appeal raised more than $110,000 in less than 24 hours.
Mrs Kelly wrote: ‘Lilly’s world was shattered by a freak accident that claimed the life of her beloved fiancé.
‘The evening was meant to be a joyous celebration of Lilly and Liam’s recent engagement and the announcement of their pregnancy, a major milestone in their journey together.
‘Friends and family gathered to share their joy. In a cruel turn of events, Liam’s life was cut short, leaving a void that can never be filled.’
She said Mrs Watts had lost her ‘soulmate’ and now faces the prospect of bringing up her child alone while juggling the cost of living.
Watts’ mother Channy Watts declined to comment on the tragedy when approached Thursday.
Sir. Trimmer was originally from the UK but he moved to Australia in 2013 and joined the police force.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch described Mr Trimmer as an ‘extremely well-liked’ and respected officer with ‘his whole life ahead of him’.
“I know when my phone rings early in the morning from a senior officer, it’s generally not good news, and tragically it wasn’t,” he said.
‘I know everyone who was involved is really, really hurting right now and I think they wish they could just wake up from this nightmare.’
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Pictured: Liam Trimmer and his fiancee Lilly Watts, who is pregnant with their first child