A FUNDRAISING campaign has been launched for a police officer who was suddenly paralysed.

Darren Triggs, a police constable who has served as an officer in Sussex for 14 years, was rushed to hospital last Tuesday, December 3.

The 36-year-old had been at home in Chichester with his pregnant wife Rosie when he felt chest pain and a numbness in his legs.

Surgeons operated on a blood clot in Darren’s spine but he remains unable to walk or sit up.

Darren and Rosie have two young daughters – four-year-old Daisy and Amelie, who is almost two, and they have another child due in six weeks.

Darren is now permanently paralysed from the chest down and will no longer be able to care for his children in the same way.

A crowdfunding campaign which was launched on Monday has already raised thousands for Darren’s care.

Yesterday afternoon more than 700 supporters had pledged a total of £19,210, and the initial target of £20,000 had been increased to £30,000.

The fundraising campaign has gone viral on social media, with police forces and officers from around the country sharing the JustGiving page on Twitter and Facebook. Many supporters used the hashtag #policefamily in their appeal for donations.

PC Tom Van Der Wee of Sussex Police tweeted: “Tragically my friend and colleague PC Darren Triggs from Chichester Police has been suddenly and permanently paralysed.

“A JustGiving page has been set up to help support him and his young family.

“We will always be there for you Darren.”

Sussex Police Federation and Police Federations from other counties as far away as West Yorkshire also shared the campaign, including Cheshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and Norfolk.

Inspector David Derrick from West Sussex Police set up the JustGiving fundraising campaign.

He said: “Darren is a fantastic constable who has served in the same Chichester force for 14 years, and he loves having that direct contact with the community.

“He’s really hard-working and is committed to proactive policing.

“He is going to a rehabilitation centre in Wiltshire and we’re trying to raise as much as we can to support Darren and his family through this tragic time and the subsequent months and years of coping with being disabled.

“The response to the campaign has been amazing – we’ve even had donations from police commanders in the USA.

“Please continue to share the campaign on social media.”

To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pc-darren-triggs-sussex.