Dedicated duo risked their lives to save teenager

ESSEX Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh has awarded commendations to two PCs who risked their lives to save a 13-year-old girl.

PC Tobias Kemp and PC Chris Aldridge, from the Force Support Unit, were called to an incident in Chelmsford, where a high-risk missing teenager was found in a great deal of distress close to a railway track.

PC Aldridge calmly spoke to the girl to explain that he was there to help her, while his colleague looked for a way to get closer to her, aware that a train was due at any moment.

With the clock against him, PC Kemp climbed over a 6ft fence as quietly as he could so he wouldn’t startle her but so he could get as close as possible in case she made a sudden move towards the tracks.

As the train approached, the girl indeed rushed towards it and, without hesitation, PC Kemp leapt forwards and grabbed her to stop her from being struck, holding her out of the way until the train had passed.

Reassuring her, the officers helped her over the fence to safety and remained with her until partner agencies were able to get her the help she needed.

“Chris and I are just very grateful that we were able to help a vulnerable young person in a time of need,” said PC Kemp. “We just acted as anybody else would have in that situation.”

They were commended by Mr Kavanagh during a special ceremony at the force’s headquarters in Chelmsford on Friday 13 January.

Mr Kavanagh said: “Tobias and Chris showed immense bravery putting their own lives at risk to save the life of a vulnerable child.”

ESSEX Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh has awarded commendations to two PCs who risked their lives to save a 13-year-old girl.

PC Tobias Kemp and PC Chris Aldridge, from the Force Support Unit, were called to an incident in Chelmsford, where a high-risk missing teenager was found in a great deal of distress close to a railway track.

PC Aldridge calmly spoke to the girl to explain that he was there to help her, while his colleague looked for a way to get closer to her, aware that a train was due at any moment.

With the clock against him, PC Kemp climbed over a 6ft fence as quietly as he could so he wouldn’t startle her but so he could get as close as possible in case she made a sudden move towards the tracks.

As the train approached, the girl indeed rushed towards it and, without hesitation, PC Kemp leapt forwards and grabbed her to stop her from being struck, holding her out of the way until the train had passed.

Reassuring her, the officers helped her over the fence to safety and remained with her until partner agencies were able to get her the help she needed.

“Chris and I are just very grateful that we were able to help a vulnerable young person in a time of need,” said PC Kemp. “We just acted as anybody else would have in that situation.”

They were commended by Mr Kavanagh during a special ceremony at the force’s headquarters in Chelmsford on Friday 13 January. 

Mr Kavanagh said: “Tobias and Chris showed immense bravery putting their own lives at risk to save the life of a vulnerable child.”