A NORTH-EAST boxing coach who tried to save the life of a murdered police officer says his funeral was a “fitting send off to the true hero”.

Tony Davis, who lives in Faverdale in Darlington, was among the first on the scene after last month’s terror attack in Westminster.

The 42-year-old has received national admiration after he tried to keep PC Keith Palmer alive by using his own raincoat to try to stem the blood.

The Northern Echo:

The coffin of PC Keith Palmer arrives at Southwark Cathedral in London after leaving Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft after resting overnight. Picture: PA

Mr Davis attended the funeral of PC Palmer yesterday, and he told The Northern Echo it was a perfect tribute to his “friend”.

“It was not about me yesterday – it was about his family, friends and colleagues.

“They took me back to Westminster for the funeral and looked after me,” he added.

Mr Davis spoke in the days after the attack of his desperation to return to his family after an exhausting time.

“I think today will be the first day or normality,” he said.

Mr Davis, who works predominantly with the Great British performance squad in Sheffield, was in London with the British Lionhearts ahead of their World Series Boxing bout against Italy when the attack took place.

He spent 22 years in the army, and was in the same regiment as fusilier Lee Rigby who was murdered in a horrific attack in 2013.