The pregnant fiancee of a British-born police officer who died at his engagement party in Australia has been left ‘devastated’, her friends have said, as neighbors described hearing their celebration suddenly give way to bloodcurdling screams.
Liam Trimmer, 29, and his fiancée Lilly Watts held the party at their home in Perth, Western Australia, on Sunday night, which continued into Monday morning.
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 – was pictured during a short trip with her family on Wednesday. She told Daily Mail Australia that her ‘soulmate’ fiance ‘will always be the love of my life and our baby will know the wonderful man he was’.
Liam Trimmer is pictured with his fiancée Lilly Watts. They were excited about the birth of their first child when he died on Sunday at their engagement party
Lilly Watts is pictured in Perth during a short trip with her family on Wednesday
Ms Watts told Daily Mail Australia that her ‘soulmate’ fiance ‘will always be the love of my life and our baby will know the wonderful man he was’. Her mother Channy (pictured left, with her daughter) did not want to comment on the tragedy
The party went on well into the night, when – around 1am – Mr Trimmer, who moved to Australia from Britain as a teenager, fell.
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 and he was beyond saving.
The Watts family were seen walking their dog in local streets on Wednesday, with the young mother-to-be wearing her engagement ring.
Ms Watts opened up about her heartbreak to Daily Mail Australia, saying her fiance was ‘really excited to be a father’.
“I’ve never known a love like Liam’s and this heartbreak and emptiness is just so overwhelming,” she said. ‘He will always be the love of my life and our baby will know the wonderful man he was.’
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 Australian dollars (£56,000) in less than 24 hours, and as of Thursday had raised more than $125,000 AUD (£64,000).
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 collapsed at home in Perth (pictured) at his own engagement party on Sunday
Neighbors have since described how they heard the party from their homes, describing how loud music was suddenly punctuated by screams.
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 before the party came to an abrupt end.
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 initially relieved when it was over.
“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.
Sir. Trimmer was originally from the UK but he moved to Australia in 2013 and joined the police force.
His career began at the WA Police Academy in Joondalup and featured in the British TV series ‘Wanted Down Under’, where he gave advice to teenagers about life in Australia before migrating.
He later joined the Gang Crime Squad and the Tactical Response Squad.
Sir. Trimmer was originally from the UK but he moved to Australia in 2013 and joined the police force
Sir. Trimmer and his fiancee (pictured) had gathered with friends and family to announce their engagement and her pregnancy
He served in several positions while in the force, including in regional parts of the state, and took part in ‘Movember’ with officers from Kalgoorlie Police Station.
In the days following his death, friends and colleagues took to social media to pay tribute to Mr Trimmer.
A friend described him as ‘probably the strongest guy’ in a local trekking group.
“Great sense of humor with a passion to excel,” they wrote.
“In my opinion, society can ill afford to lose guys like Liam (who had) the courage to go into the furnace on a daily basis dealing with the ‘heavy side of policing.’
‘The boys are sore this week but they have started big training exercises and home operations.’
Another friend replied: ‘He was like that from day one at (police) school – you couldn’t help but like him.’
A third person wrote: ‘It’s been a sad few days at the office.’
‘Lots of hugs and lots of tears. But … the boys are at it and stuck with their training. Hopefully it’s a good distraction.’
Speaking to a local radio station, Police Commissioner Col Blanch described Mr Trimmer as an ‘extremely well-liked’ and respected officer with ‘his whole life ahead of him’.
Pictured: Liam Trimmer and his fiancee Lilly Watts, who is pregnant with their first child
Liam Trimmer (pictured), has been remembered as an ‘extraordinary officer’
“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.’
The cause of the accident has not been confirmed.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.