Four Nottinghamshire Police officers hailed heroes after saving a woman's life

The heroic and brave actions of four response officers have been recognised after they pulled a woman to safety saving her life.

Within minutes of a report concerning a woman’s safety, two response officers quickly tracked her down in the east of the county.

Finding the woman in a perilous situation on a bridge over the River Trent they sprung to action, running to stop a potentially life-threatening incident from happening and managing to grab hold of her before she fell.

Being pushed to their absolute physical limits in keeping a grip on the woman, the officers were quickly joined by another two response officers and were able to work as a team and pull the woman onto solid ground.

Response officer PC Sindall, who was first on the scene explained just how far she had to push herself to rescue the woman alongside her colleague and pull her to safety.

“This was a very demanding incident and we knew that we had to act quickly. Whilst I was aware of the risk to my colleague and I, we were determined to help this woman in her moment of crisis,” she said.

“As we struggled to maintain a hold of her I had to use every ounce of my strength to maintain our hold of the woman and I honestly believed we were going to lose our grip at one point.

“If it was not for the swift response of our colleagues, the outcome could have been very different.

“I think I speak for all three of my colleagues when I say that being able to help people is a huge part of why we joined the police and I'm so grateful that we have been able to protect a vulnerable person in her time of need.”

The officers have now all been commended for their life-saving efforts.

Their immense courage and bravery this month resulted in the woman being detained under the Mental Health Act and being taken to hospital to be cared for.

Response officer PC Bowskill, who also attended the incident, said: “Being able to help this lady is why I joined the force. Helping people when they need it the most.

“The amazing actions taken by my colleagues undoubtedly saved a life.

“How they managed to hold on until myself and my colleague could get to the bridge to assist is amazing.”

Nottinghamshire Police has this week been shining a light on the heroic, bravery, dedication and courage of response officers who work for the force and the daily challenges they face in a bid to keep the people of Nottinghamshire safe.

Superintendent Kevin Broadhead, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The unbelievable bravery and courage of these officers no doubt saved this woman’s life.

“This incident once again highlights the sheer dedication and hard work being done by our response cops in protecting the people of Nottinghamshire.

“The hard work of response officers can sometimes be overlooked but their role is vital to the force and the work they do every single day when they put on their uniform and represent the police service.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have response officers who go above and beyond to protect people, carry out extraordinary actions in saving people’s lives but also being the front face of Nottinghamshire Police and being there for members of the public when they need them most.

“Thanks to the actions by these response officers this woman’s life was saved, and I want to personally thank them for their incredible work.

“Being a police officer is a lot more than just arresting people, it’s about engaging with the community, being there when needed, being a shoulder to lean on and listen when someone needs us or wants to a report an incident and as shown in this incident being there to save a person’s life and reunite them with family and friends.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “I find it really reassuring to know that Nottinghamshire Police has such brave, professional and hard-working officers who are saving lives and preventing harm on a daily basis.

“In times of crisis, response officers can be relied upon to be there for you. Hearing stories like this during Response Policing Week of Action makes you realise just how important the police’s response function is when it comes to public safety and confidence in the police.”

Anyone in need of support with their mental health is urged to speak to their doctor, call Samaritans free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or call the NHS on 111.