Officer praised for rescuing family from west London flat
A police officer who helped rescue a family from a smoke filled building in west London has been praised for his bravery.
Acting Sergeant Tony Ruth was on a routine patrol in Uxbridge with his fellow officers when shortly after midday on 27 December 2021 they noticed smoke coming from the underground storage area of a block of flats on Station Road.
The officers heard a woman calling for help from one of the upper flats. She shouted that she was trapped due to the smoke and that she had three children and another adult with her.
With the help of members of the public who provided a ladder, the officers were able to guide one of the adults down to safety.
Acting Sergeant Tony Ruth removed his body armour before climbing up to the window of the flat to rescue each of the three children and another adult was helped down the ladder from the first floor window.
On Monday, 7 February, A/PS Ruth was recognised for his actions when he was named ‘officer of the month’ for the West Area Command Unit which is made up of the boroughs of Hillingdon, Hounslow and Ealing.
His colleagues, PC Dave Collinswood and PC Ryan James, were also recognised for the important part they played in the response to the fire.
After receiving his award, A/PS Ruth, said: “It’s great to be recognised in this way but it’s important that this incident and everything we do in this role is a team effort.
“You really never know what each call will bring working on a response team. Incidents like this show that what we do is about so much more than making arrests.
“We can make a real difference and I’m very glad we were able to help and that the family got out without being hurt.
“I’d like to thank the public too who were quick to get a ladder and help us when we needed it. They were fantastic.”
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, policing commander for the West Area Command Unit, said: “It goes without saying that the quick-thinking and courageous actions of A/PS Ruth, PC Collinswood and PC James, with the assistance of members of the public, potentially saved the lives of this young family.
“They have demonstrated the best qualities that we expect in our officers, putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public. I, and all their colleagues on the West Area Command Unit, are immensely proud of them.”
PC David Collinswood and Supt James Pigg
PC David Collinswood and Supt James Pigg
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