Lifesaving PCs set for chief constable’s commendations

PC Rob Andrews and PC Deborah Gray will be honoured for the dedication and professionalism they showed during the incident in March. 

The two officers, who are based in South Woodham Ferrers, were returning back to the station when a distressed member of public flagged them down on Hawkswood Road.

They discovered a man, later identified as Brian Hughes, from Battlesbridge, lying face down in a ditch by the side of the road.

“Brian wasn’t breathing so there was no hanging around,” said PC Andrews. “We jumped out of the car and got straight to work.”

The two officers gave Mr Hughes emergency CPR and called for another unit carrying a defibrillator to rush to the scene.

“We administered CPR for about 15 minutes,” said PC Gray. “Our Armed Response Unit arrived with a defibrillator and we worked together. We shocked Brian around four times before Helimed arrived, took over and rushed him to hospital.”

Mr Hughes, who has since made a full recovery and has met PC Gray and PC Andrews, said he was “very, very grateful” to the two officers.

PC Andrews said the best part of the whole experience had been meeting Brian and “seeing him look so fit and healthy”.

PC Gray added: “I feel incredibly proud and humbled to have even been considered for these awards, but I am just grateful that we were able to help and that Brian is back on his feet.”

The officers will be presented with their certificates by Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh at a special ceremony on 23 October.