The grieving family of a heroic policeman who risked his life to save children from a joyrider, but later died from an overdose of painkillers could still qualify for compensation.

Keith Gray, 40, died an accidental death from pain-killers and was found in the early hours of July 28 last year, at a Hestia housing hostel in Cromwell Road, Kingston, an inquest heard last month.

When he died he had been waiting for compensation for four years and the Metropolitan Police Federation has called this “shameful”.

A spokesman said: “It is shameful that Keith Gray did not receive the compensation he was entitled to, having acted selflessly to protect others and suffered appalling consequences. 

“Officers put their lives on the line daily to protect the public and when they receive injuries, like all other victims of crime, they should be properly and promptly compensated.

“If Keith left dependents the payment should now be made to his family to assist them in coping without Keith.”

He had been left in a back brace and suffered the breakdown of his marriage after he tried to stop a driver high on drink and drugs mowing down children at a Christmas lights switch-on event in New Addington in 2008.

He was also left homeless on two occasions.

A spokesman from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said: “In cases where someone is seriously injured, and will qualify for loss of earnings compensation, it can be several years before their medical prognosis is clear enough for us to be able to assess their claim.

“We can compensate qualifying financial dependents should such an applicant die while their claim is still open, even if the applicant’s death was not directly attributable to the incident they were claiming for.

“Anyone financially dependent on someone who dies while pursuing a criminal injuries compensation claim should contact us as soon as they can to check their eligibility.”

Mr Gray could have been in line for a payout of up to £250,000 or £500,000 including medical bills, although the Government body refused to say how much he was due.