Quick-Thinking Police Duo Who Saved Woman’s Life Honoured For Their Bravery

Two South Wales Police officers who risked their own safety to save the life of a woman who had set herself on fire, have been commended for their remarkable courage at the force’s Annual Awards event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Two South Wales Police officers who risked their own safety to save the life of a woman who had set herself on fire, have been commended Police Constables Christopher Bluck and Rhys Edwards, who are both patrol officers based in Bridgend, were named the winners of the prestigious Exceptional Bravery Award after the ceremony heard the pair didn’t hesitate to act when confronted with a terrifying scene. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Having been called to the scene in the early hours of the morning back in March, the duo were let in to a property where they could see smoke coming from under a bedroom door which had been barricaded by furniture. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Without hesitation, they forced entry in to the room, where they discovered a woman sat among a pile of burning clothes and paper, with her clothing alight. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More alarmingly, she was in possession of a firearm and was threatening to harm herself. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Without any time to consider whether or not the gun was real, the two dragged the woman to safety of the street, where they administered first aid while the fire service extinguished the rest of the fire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

And having recovered the gun – which was discovered to be a BB gun that fired metal ball bearings, two of which the woman had shot in to her mouth – PC Bluck and PC Edwards then drove her to the hospital where she was treated for her injuries and put in to the care of health services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

And as part of their ongoing investigations, the officers also recovered two more firearms. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Bernard Sullivan, who nominated the officers for the award, commented: “It is without doubt that the bravery and dedication on that night by the two officers not only saved this lady’s life but stopped a potentially serious fire and also inadvertently led to the seizure of two further firearms and the arrest of another person. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“They absolutely put themselves in harm’s way by entering a fire scene where they faced a lady with a hand gun which, at the time, they had to assume was real. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Without their quick thinking, bravery and dedication to duty then the consequences would have been far more serious with the loss of life and property, and it is with this in mind that I’m delighted that PC Bluck and PC Edwards have been recognised for their sterling work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 2016 Annual Awards, which were held at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea, celebrated the hard work, dedication, innovation and exceptional levels of service shown by South Wales Police officers, staff and volunteers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Among the other accolades, which were presented to worthy winners by ITV news anchor Jonathan Hill, were the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Community Officer Shrievalty Award, and the Extra Mile Award for Volunteers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Photograph attached of PC Bluck (left) and PC Edwards (right) receiving their award ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​