Family's torment after Wolverhampton police officer's death on skiing holiday

Pc Rich Williams died after falling ill just two days into a trip to the picturesque Val d'Isère resort in the French Alps.

The seemingly fit and healthy 32-year-old had complained to friends that he had been suffering from a headache the day before he was rushed to hospital by paramedics.

But the former Wolverhampton response officer died the following day and his devastated family have not been given any answers as to what caused his death.

Rich's mother, Carol, said not knowing what has caused her son's death has made it more difficult to come to terms with her loss.

She said: "I just think about what he would have gone through, having to be resuscitated and having lots of medical people around him. He was such a fit and healthy young man. He looked after himself and didn't drink excessively or fill himself with junk food.

"He was always so much fun. There must have been something going on in his body, something that is just one of those unfortunate things than has taken him."

Ski fanatic Rich, a former Brewood Middle and Wolgarston High School pupil, had travelled to France with scores of Midland-based police colleagues for an annual skiing trip.

His parents and sister, Michelle, aged 30, said in the days before the trip, Rich, who had been a police officer for 10 years, had been excited about hitting the slopes, even buying himself some new ski gloves and helmet ahead of the excursion.

The dedicated officer, who was a qualified Taser officer and had also passed his advance police driving test, called his family on Saturday, January 20 to tell them he had arrived at the resort.

But Rich, who as a youngster played football and cricket for Brewood Juniors and had previously been a member at Oxley Golf Club, complained about having a headache the following day. The following day, his condition deteriorated and he was taken to hospital.

The next day he died.

Rich's funeral will be at St Paul's Church, Coven, on March 1.