Essex officers at Downing Street for Bravery Awards

HEROIC Essex officers PC Thomas Clinton and Sergeant Michael Latham have attended a reception at 10 Downing Street as part of their nomination for the National Police Bravery Awards.

The pair met Policing Minister Nick Hurd at the event and attended the awards ceremony in central London later that evening.

PC Clinton said: “I was very proud to be part of the awards and it was a very humbling experience to hear some of the other officers’ incredible stories. I’m very proud to be here representing Essex officers and my county, too.”

Sgt Latham added: “We’ve spoken to other nominees, everyone has done some really brave things.

“I think the awards represent every officer not just those who are here, and I am very proud and humbled to be here.”

The courageous officers were nominated for the awards for rescuing a man from drowning in thick estuary mud.

They were called out to the incident in the Thames Estuary at Canvey Island in July 2015.

A man had jumped off the sea wall and had sustained injuries to his face and leg when the pair arrived on the scene.

They had to ascertain the situation quickly and alongside six RNLI lifeguards managed to get close enough to the man to haul him to safety.

The man at first physically pushed the officers away and they also had to battle choppy waters and a rising tide during the rescue attempt.

Without their intervention paramedics said the man would have died.

Essex Police Federation Chair Steve Taylor added that he was proud of what Michael and Thomas did that day.

“It’s another great example of the dedication and bravery police officers show in the line of duty,” he said.

“It wasn’t an easy rescue by any means and they had to make snap decisions in order to save this man’s life – we’re very proud of them.”

Overall winners at the 2018 Police Bravery Awards were Metropolitan PCs Charlie Guenigault, who received horrific injuries after being attackedby terrorists at London Bridge, and PC Keith Palmer who was posthumously awarded after he was tragically killed during last year’s terror attack on Westminster Bridge.