Wilts
Officers Bravery Awards
Three
Wiltshire Police Officers have been recognised for their immense courage
at the recent Police Bravery Awards. The awards which are supported by
The Sun newspaper highlight the bravery of officers across the country
who have risked their own lives to save those of others.
In the early hours of Thursday 22nd November 2007, PC Sam Withey and PC
Stephen Porter were called to reports of a man on top of a building at
Westbury Railway Station, Wiltshire.
The suicidal man had tied himself to a condemned fire escape ladder with
a rope which was also looped around his neck and he also had a knife in
his possession.
The officers attempted to persuade him to come down from the building
but he was extremely agitated and appeared drunk. Acting Police Sergeant
Dave Thompson arrived at the scene and the officers continued to negotiate
with the man for two hours but he was certain that he wasn't coming down
and threatened to harm himself if the officers tried to rescue him.
The man then tried to test the strength of the rope, which was attached
to the derelict fire escape and could have collapsed at any time, and
leaned over the edge of the roof. He then slipped and fell 6-8 feet before
he was suspended by his neck.
Without hesitation PC Withey climbed up the outside of the safety frame
as the ladder was blocked off. He managed to get to the man and grabbed
hold of him. Despite the fact that he himself was hanging precariously
over the edge of the building he took the full weight of the man until
PC Porter and A/PS Thompson came to assist. The officers managed to loosen
the rope a little so the man could breathe and supported him for a considerable
amount of time until Fire Fighters attended with ladders. It then took
five people to pull the man back over the ledge to safety.
PC Withey said after the incident: ‘There was this throttling sound
as the man struggled to breathe. I was just thinking about getting to
him as quickly as I could. It was quite difficult because I was wearing
body armour, but I didn't really think about it at the time.’
PC Porter said: ‘The only thought was that there was some poor guy
hanging off a building. You haven't got time to weigh it up; you just
have to get on with the job.’
A/PS Thompson, who overcame a fear of heights to help save the life of
this man said: ‘I just remember looking into his eyes and seeing
a look of absolute desperation and fear.’
The officer's selfless actions ensured that the man survived and there
were no lasting injuries to anyone involved.
Brian Moore, Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police said: 'This is an excellent
example of the work that takes place every hour of every day by Officers
and staff across the county. The police service exists to serve and protect
and this is a fine example of that in practise.’
Mr Moore continued: ‘All of these Officers have lived up to the highest
traditions of Policing by putting themselves in danger for what is our
most important function, the protection of life. In addition to this award
I personally congratulate the Officers for a job well done.’
