Police Bravery Awards 2008 - Region 6 Winner - Wiltshire officers Sam Withey, Stephen Porter and David Thompson
STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 10 PM THURSDAY JULY 10
NO APPROACH TO BE MADE TO WINNING OFFICER BEFORE 10PM
Wiltshire officers scoop regional bravery award
Constables Sam Withey, Stephen Porter and David Thompson clinched the title at The Dorchester on 10th July in the presence of Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith and a host of celebrities.
The annual awards are organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales and sponsored by The Sun Newspaper.
The officers received one of eight regional awards at the glittering award ceremony which followed a reception at 10 Downing Street where they, and 64 other nominees, met the Prime Minister.
The three Wiltshire officers managed to save a drunk suicidal man’s life as he hung from the roof of a train station.
Constables Sam Withey and Stephen Porter were first to arrive at the scene in November 2007. They found a very distressed man standing on the roof of the railway station with a Stanley knife in his hand and a noose tied round his neck.
The officers spent over two hours trying to reassure and reason with him. By the time Constable Dave Thompson arrived, the man was threatening to harm himself if the officers tried to rescue him.
He had tied the rope to a derelict ladder and was insistent his former employers should witness him plunge to his death. The man decided to “test” the rope and leant outwards but lost his footing and fell about eight feet still hanging from the rope.
As the man gasped for air and desperately tried to reach the ledge Constable Withey, without any hesitation, climbed onto the very loosely fixed ladder and grabbed hold of the man. Although he himself was now hanging over the edge he managed to support the weight of the man until Constable Porter and Constable Thompson came to their aid.
The three officers held on to the man and succeeded in loosening the noose from around his neck allowing him to breathe again. The officers despite being in considerable danger, held on to the man until fire fighters arrived with ladders.
Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation which organises the Police Bravery Awards, said:
“These officers deserve the highest praise for their quick thinking and heroic actions. They are a credit to the police service. We hope this award goes some way towards recognising their courageous act.”
Editor of The Sun Newspaper Rebekah Wade said:
“This police officer faced a terrifying and unpredictable situation. They showed extraordinary bravery in tackling such violent offenders despite knowing one of their colleagues had been shot. Their selfless courage deserves the highest praise and it is an honour for The Sun to have this opportunity to recognise the dedication of such heroic officers.”
NOTE TO EDITORS
For further details, or to arrange an interview with any of the officers, call Catherine Hollands on 01380 734059. No approach should be made before 10 pm.
A video reconstruction and footage of the Downing Street reception and awards ceremony is available from 9am on Friday 11th July by calling Lorna Carmichael on 020 7782 4322.
Photographs of the nominees with the Prime Minister will be available at 9.00 am on Friday 13th July from the Sun picture desk. Contact Adrian Smith on 020 7782 4199.
For further information contact: Rachel Barnet/Una Carney at the Police Federation on 0137 235 2071 or Lorna Carmichael at the Sun Newspaper on 07836 340423.
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