39 years since three Blackpool police officers lost their lives in sea rescue
A memorial service was taken place on Gynn Square this afternoon
Today marks 39 years since four people, three of them police officers, lost their lives during an attempted sea rescue in Blackpool.
A memorial service was taken place on Gynn Square this afternoon to remember the courageous and brave officers.
The family of those killed were joined by members of the public and other officers for a memorial service on the seafront this afternoon.
Former officer Jack Baxter, was there on the day.
"When the shout came we all flew up here blues and twos, but by the time I got here the Inspector was advising the Chief Super that nobody else must go in the water", said Jack Baxter.
"The first body recovered was Collins. It was a dreadful day, not like today, it was a very sad day for everyone. It's nice that we can still come here and commemorate the loss all officers in Lancashire felt that day.
"Collin went and dropped his watch off when we were together at one point to get it repaired. My next contact with the ticket for his watch was later on that day when I was tasked with identifying his wallet and putting that inside the identity book.
"Collin always had a mars bar for his buttys. I left to go do some paperwork and he went out, and that was it. It was the last time I saw him."
Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods says the actions of those officers define police.
The Deputy Chief Constable said: "Everything that the three police officers who died, and the fourth officer, Pat, did to try and save the individual represents everything we stand for and our values. The selfless act of putting ourselves in danger above everything else. Care and compassion and that sense of duty.
"Police officers and members of the public need to come to Blackpool and they need to look at the memorial. I think we've all got a duty to take half a day and pay respects to colleagues that have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and also to take some time to reflect why we do the job and how important it is."
"That's why today is important. It represents everything that this job stands for. As much as we get tests with cuts and all the rest of it, we need never forget this. No matter what anybody says or does about the cops this is what we're about."
What happened to the police officers?
On this day 39 years ago, PCs Angela Bradley, 24, Gordon Connolly, 23 answered a 999 call to rescue Scottish holidaymaker Alistair Anthony, 25, who had gone in to the sea to rescue his Jack Russell dog.
PCs Connolly and Bradley were among the first to try and rescue Mr Anthony with a promenade lifebelt but the sea was too strong for them and they were swept away.
Road traffic officer PC Colin Morrison, 38, joined the effort but the strong westerly winds and choppy sea was too much for him.
On the day, the conditions were so bad that the lifeboat from nearby Fleetwood took three hours to get to the area and even then it could only get within 68m (223ft) of where the officers had last been seen.