'MENTAL TORTURE'
Salisbury poisoning cop relives ‘terrifying’ ordeal that left him having to start new life
THE cop poisoned by novichok in the Skripal attack today relived the "terrifying" ordeal that left him having to start new life.
Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey was left in critical care after being poisoned by the nerve agent as he investigated the assassination attempt of Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.
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Speaking on Good Morning Britain, the officer today said the years since the 2018 investigation had been a "whirlwind".
He said: "I have been left and my family to pick up the pieces.
"It's been really, really tough and I'm not embarrassed to say I've suffered with depression and trying to sort myself out and climb out of the hole I feel like I've been in."
DS Bailey sped to help Mr Skripal and his daughter following a nerve agent attack in Salisbury.
The ex-KGB spy and his daughter Yulia, 34, collapsed while out in Salisbury on Sunday, March 4, 2018.
They were found slumped on a bench in a "catatonic state".
It was revealed that the pair had been victims of a nerve agent attack, which was later confirmed as being novichok.
After further investigation, it was discovered that the nerve agent had been administered to the property's door handle, and that DS Bailey had become contaminated during his investigation of the house.
'START AGAIN'
And he revealed he at first thought he had a migraine when he started to vomit, with his pupils becoming like "pin pricks".
He said today: "We couldn't have comprehended it was a nerve agent.
"It was terrifying, a very stressful time."
DS Bailey, his wife and children were unable to stay in their home, as he had unknowingly contaminated the property when he returned.
Their entire property, including toys, books and clothes, had to be destroyed.
DS Bailey said: "We had to start again, it was quite tough."
He is now hoping to return to work on Monday - the third time he has made the move as he continues to struggle with the trauma from the attack.
The cop said: "It's been really tricky being back in the police environment.
"I'll give it a go - my heart says I want to be a cop but it's whether my head will allow it."
Dawn Sturgess died after she and her boyfriend Charlie Rowley were exposed to the same Novichok nerve agent.
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The two Russians who were seen visiting Salisbury at the time of the attack gave the now infamous interview claiming they had been in the area to visit the famous "123-metre spire".
A chilling three-part TV series telling the story of the 2018 Salisbury novichok poisonings is coming to BBC One on June 14.
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Rafe Spall plays Sergeant Nick Bailey, who joined the police force in 2002.
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