LOOKBACK THE LIVER RUN
On 8 May 1987, the Metropolitan Police executed “The Liver Run,” a high- speed operation transporting a human liver across 27 miles of London in just 34 minutes. This extraordinary feat of coordination and skill saved a life and remains a benchmark for emergency responses, showcasing the dedication and professionalism of Britain’s police drivers. It remains one of the finest examples of police driving under pressure ever captured on video
On 8 May 1987, the Metropolitan Police undertook what would become one of the most celebrated emergency responses in UK history. Dubbed “The Liver Run,” this operation saw police officers from the Met’s Traffic Division transport a human organ across 27 miles of London in just 34 minutes—a remarkable feat of coordination, skill, and speed that ultimately saved a life. The feat is even more impressive considering there was no sat nav in 1987, just paper maps, and the same journey today would take over an hour at normal road speed. At the Cromwell Hospital in London, Aliza Hillel was suffering from chronic
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rejection of a recently transplanted liver. Doctors determined that her only hope of survival was an immediate second transplant. The search for a suitable donor was extensive, and eventually, a
“Recognising the urgency of the situation, the officers formulated a relay plan to ensure the liver reached the hospital as quickly as possible.”
compatible organ was located in Hull, over 200 miles away. However, retrieving and delivering the liver in time posed a significant challenge. The organ was flown to Stansted
Airport in Essex, the closest available airstrip. However, bad weather conditions, including heavy fog, caused significant delays, further narrowing the already slim window for transplantation. To make matters worse, London’s Air Ambulance service had not yet been established, and police helicopters had been temporarily grounded following a recent crash landing. With time running out, the responsibility of transporting the liver to the hospital fell on the Essex Police
and the Met’s Traffic Division. Recognising the urgency of the situation, the officers formulated a relay plan to ensure the liver reached the hospital as quickly as possible. An Essex
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