A PC whose quick-thinking actions saved the life of a vulnerable woman who had set herself on fire has been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2025.

On 13 June 2024, PC Rhona Adams’ unparalleled bravery turned a potentially tragic situation into a life-saving intervention when responding single-crewed to a high-risk missing person report.

The incident unfolded in a bustling fast-food restaurant filled with families. The report that PC Adams, from West Yorkshire Police, was called to was chilling: a missing person who had threatened to take her life by setting herself on fire.

Arriving at the scene, PC Adams quickly grasped the severity of the situation. The presence of large numbers of people, including children, in such a crowded setting made the threat even more alarming. But PC Adams didn’t hesitate.

With the assistance of the restaurant’s staff, PC Adams made her way to the disabled toilets, where it was believed the missing person was located. What she found inside was utterly devastating: the woman had already set herself alight.

Without regard for her own safety, PC Adams immediately leapt into action. She reached the woman and, despite the raging fire, began desperately trying to smother the flames with her bare hands. Her swift decision-making in those critical moments was the difference between life and death.

Recognising the need for further action, PC Adams directed the staff to bring a fire extinguisher. With remarkable composure, she used the extinguisher effectively, successfully dousing the remaining fire and preventing it from spreading.

Her rapid intervention not only stopped the fire from engulfing the woman completely but also ensured the safety of everyone else in the area.

The crowded nature of the restaurant meant that a full-scale major incident was a real risk, but Adams’ actions ensured that chaos was avoided, and harm was minimised.

Throughout the ordeal, she maintained a calm demeanour under intense pressure. While managing the immediate threat of the fire, she was also able to radio for an ambulance, ensuring medical help was on the way.

She offered constant reassurance to the injured woman, giving her the comfort and care she needed in those terrifying moments. PC Adams’ first aid skills, coupled with her emotional intelligence, were essential in stabilising the woman until paramedics arrived on the scene.

Thanks to PC Adams’ quick thinking, the woman’s injuries were limited to first and second-degree burns—an outcome that could have been far worse, possibly even fatal.

Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, John Robins QPM DL, said:  

“Rhona showed incredible bravery in taking immediate control of the situation and preventing risk to others in the building.  

“Her actions were instinctive and proved to be vital in saving the life of a vulnerable female.  

“I am very proud of the professionalism Rhona showed throughout the incident and am delighted to support her nomination for a Police Bravery Award.”