Trevor Thorn: Former Melbourne police officer, Mildura basketball coach killed in electrocution

A retired police officer’s dog sat by his owner’s coffin as hundreds of mourners gathered to remember the Mildura basketball coach who impacted so many.

Hundreds of mourners have remembered a retired police officer and beloved Mildura basketball coach during a moving funeral service in Melbourne on Thursday.

Trevor Thorn, 58 of Mildura, died on February 12 after he was shocked by live wires while repairing the roof of his family’s home.

His dog George sat by his coffin as those closest to him paid tribute to the man they described as “infectious, playful, kind and generous”.

On Wednesday his long-term partner, Christina Abela, said her heart was in “a thousand pieces” after the man she planned to marry died.

She was making dinner when she asked her son to check on Trevor.

When he went into the roof, he found Trevor not breathing. Neighbours started CPR but sadly he died at the scene

“I will never get that image (of Trevor) out of my head,” Christina said.

“I am absolutely devastated, my heart is broken into thousands of pieces and if Trevor was here he would be giving me the superglue, but he isn’t.”

Christina says her family had been shattered by the tragedy and his dog, George, is still “waiting” for him to come down from the roof.

Trevor rescued George about three years ago because no one “would take him in” and had been inseparable since, Christina said.

“We had to buy a kingsize bed so that George could fit with us,” she said.

“I don’t know how to make George understand that his best friend is gone.

“All he knows is that dad went up into the roof and he didn’t come back. He is still waiting for him to come back.”

Trevor was a junior basketball coach and mentor to many. Picture: Supplied

Trevor rescued his dog George when “no one would take him in”. They were best friends since. Picture: Supplied

Christina met Trevor more than two years ago when Trevor stopped to give George a drink of water. She said within weeks the pair spent every second together.

Christina said Trevor went above and beyond for her; as he did everyone.

“It didn’t matter how old you were where you came from, it didn’t matter if he didn’t know you, if you needed a hand Trevor was there,” she said.

Trevor was well-known in the sporting scene having umpired basketball, and was considered “passionate” by his peers.

“Trevor was a passionate man who always had time for everyone. He loved teaching and mentoring young umpires, sharing his years of experience and knowledge. Trevor never hesitated to happily volunteer his time,” Mildura Workers Warriors Basketball Club wrote in their tribute on social media.

Irymple Basketball Association added: “He was happy and easy going and always greeted everyone with a big smile or a hug. Trevor will be greatly missed by the basketball community.”

Trevor and his partner Christina met by accident more than two years ago. Picture: Supplied

Trevor will be farewelled at a funeral service in Melbourne on Thursday. Picture: Supplied

Trevor also mentored his own son Ryan who was a promising young basketballer before he tragically died in his sleep at 16.

He is also survived by another son, Nathan, and his two stepsons who “he cared for like his own”.

“He always wanted to make sure the young ones had a mentor, that they were doing okay,” Christina said.

Trevor was a dedicated police officer for 35 years in Melbourne before he moved to Mildura. He joined the police force when he was 18 and climbed his way through the ranks, becoming a sergeant before he retired.

“He did things surrounding witness protection and I always thought how this gentle man could’ve done all that,” Christina said.

She said Trevor always helped others because that was the “kind of person he was”.

“Trevor helped neighbours when they needed plumbing fixed and helped a family when their house was in shambles, simply because he went to pick something up from them that they had advertised on Facebook and saw that they needed a hand,” she said.