A mother-of-three who was flown to hospital by the Duke of Cambridge on his final shift as an air ambulance pilot died as the result of an accident after she was struck by a police van that was looking for her, an inquest concluded.

Helen Loveday, 52, was struck while walking in Wymondham Road, Hethel, Norfolk, at around 10.20pm on July 27 last year and died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on July 29.

She had suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Helen Loveday, 52, died of a traumatic brain injury. (Family handout/ PA)
An inquest concluded Helen Loveday, 52, died as the result of an accident (Family handout/ PA)

Ms Loveday, of Market Harborough in Leicestershire, had been visiting her sister Rachel Hurn in Wreningham, Norfolk.

On the night of the incident, Ms Loveday ran off from the property and said “something about killing herself”, according to her sister’s evidence at an inquest in Norwich.

Her sister dialled 999 and one of the police vehicles responding to the call struck Ms Loveday.

Jurors returned a conclusion of accidental death following the four-day hearing.