Location: London, United Kingdom

Date: May 8, 1987

On May 8, 1987 the Metropolitan Police Service were given the responsibility of rushing a donated Liver from Stansted Airport in Essex to Cromwell Hospital in Kensington, London. The Metropolitan Police had only 35 minutes to cover 29 miles and had to cross Central London on a busy Friday afternoon rush hour to deliver the organ in time. It should be noted that in 1987 there was only 1 police helicopter and on this day it was down for repairs and there were no Air Ambulances back then.

4 Police Officers and 2 cars were assigned this task. The patient at Cromwell Hospital had already had a transplant but her body was rejecting the new liver. The second replacement liver was deemed suitable. The doctors at the hospital began the surgery under the assumption that the police would be on time. The Metropolitan Police at this time used the iconic Rover SD1 for traffic duties and they were equipped with powerful V8 engines.

The route had been carefully planned so that other Police assets would be available to the officers on the Liver Run. The majority of intersections were manned by police officers to allow the two police cars to pass. But as they got closer to the center of London the traffic became more dense and progress began to slow. The officers had been told if they didn't arrive at exactly 12:30 they were to abort the run. Despite all that was working against them the officers arrived at Cromwell Hospital with 5 minutes remaining. The patient survived and made a full recovery thanks to their efforts.