Bravery nomination for PC who waded into sea to rescue woman

AN ESSEX police officer who waded into the cold sea at night to rescue a vulnerable woman has been nominated for this year’s National Police Bravery Awards.

PC Dave Bridge was on night duty with his dog Diesel in June 2014 when he was called to help search for a high-risk missing woman in the Southend area.

The woman was known to the police as she had been reported missing in the past and had self-harmed and made previous attempts on her own life.

PC Bridge headed to an area where he knew she had been found before, off the coast of Southend.

As soon as he spotted her, some 100m off shore, he jumped over the sea wall and made his way across the sand to the high tide.

“Without hesitation and with no regard for his own safety, PC Bridge waded out into the water and the darkness of the estuary,” said Mark Smith, Chairman of Essex Police Federation, who nominated him for the award.

The water was up to PC Bridge’s chest and up to the woman’s neck, with the only light coming from his vehicle and the buildings on the land.

He quickly realised she had inflicted deep cuts all the way up her arm and was still holding the razor blade. “I knew I had to get her back to shore quickly; I then noticed she had some quite serious injuries to her arms,” he said. He tried to stem the bleeding and persuade her to come back to the shore but she refused and pulled away.

Remembering that she had a dog of her own, he asked whether she wanted to come to see his dog in the vehicle.

It was at this point that Diesel played his part in the rescue, barking from the car. The woman was finally persuaded to wade back onto dry land, where they were met by a paramedic.

PC Bridge returned to his vehicle and Diesel and, before he even changed out of his wet clothes, responded immediately to a report of a stolen vehicle. He finished his shift in the same wet clothes. “It’s what we do!” said the officer.

PC Bridge will attend a reception at Downing Street and an evening awards ceremony at The Dorchester Hotel in London on Thursday 14 July.

This year will be the 21st anniversary of the National Police Bravery Awards, which honours officers who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty. The awards are sponsored by Police Mutual.

“I have no doubt that PC Bridge’s quick-thinking and brave actions saved this woman’s life and we are very proud that he is representing Essex at this year’s Bravery Awards,” said Mr Smith.