Hero officers nominated for National Police Bravery Awards

TWO Essex Police officers who saved a man’s life after he set himself on fire have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards.

PC Shane Robinson (pictured left) and PC Keith Lucas from Southend have been described as “incredibly humble” about their achievements.

The Police Bravery Awards are being held in London on Thursday October 16. 

PC Robinson and PC Lucas were called to the forecourt of a BP Garage in Westcliff-on-Sea following reports that a man had threatened to set himself alight.

The man had called the fire brigade, told the operator he heard voices in his head and hung up.

As the officers drove towards the scene, they saw the man holding a large bottle in his hand. As they approached the man, he held it up and began to shake it, spilling liquid all over his upper body.

The officers got out of their car and ran towards the man, anxious that he could cause serious harm to himself and members of the public.

They then saw him produce a lighter from his pocket. PC Lucas shouted that he should drop the lighter but the man ignored him and began to strike it. On the third attempt the lighter worked and the man’s clothes went up in flames.

According to the force the man was “instantly turned into a large fireball with flames extending well above his head”. The officers were just feet away from him, surrounded by the hazards of a petrol forecourt.

The man quickly became engulfed in flame and he screamed in pain as he took a step towards the officers. They told him to drop to the floor, which he did, and PC Robinson threw his fleece over the man to try to put out the flames.

Both officers were aware that the garage could explode but they were dogged in their attempts to save the man. CCTV images show the man’s upper body engulfed as PC Robinson continued to beat the flames. The man rose to his feet and staggered a few feet before collapsing on the pavement, at which point the firefighters stepped in and started to extinguish him.

Miraculously the man survived and escaped with minor burns – thanks to the fact that he was wearing a heavy winter coat and of course the officers’ quick actions.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Although this incident lasted only a matter of minutes, there is no question that the officers moved towards danger with little consideration for their own safety. Both officers were fearful of the danger posed by a possible explosion but their primary concern was for the male who had set fire to himself.”

Both officers have received Royal Humane Society certificates and Chief Constable’s Commendations for their bravery.

Mark Smith, chairman of Essex Police Federation, said: “These brave officers do not realise what they did. To them it was just another job. This incident just goes to show what a job like no other policing is.”