TWO Essex Police Officers from Braintree who risked their safety to save the life of a man after he threatened to jump from a busy road bridge have won an Essex Police Federation Bravery Award.<\/p>\n
PC Matthew\u00a0Parker and\u00a0Sgt Richard\u00a0Ambrose\u00a0responded to a 999-call in March 2018 saying a man was sitting on the wrong side of railings on the bridge over the A120 in Braintree.<\/p>\n
Arriving at the scene, the officers could see the man was wearing pyjamas and was apparently drinking alcohol.<\/p>\n
It was clear the man was intent on harming himself and the officers quickly realised that he had to be dragged away from his precarious position to prevent him from falling onto the road below.<\/p>\n
The officers managed to get hold of the man and pull him from his precarious perch. It transpired that he had previously sent a suicide note to his girlfriend.<\/p>\n
The officers then accompanied the man in the ambulance to the hospital, where he received the appropriate care.<\/p>\n
Without the officers\u2019 prompt intervention, the man could clearly have died or seriously injured himself and others.<\/p>\n
PC\u00a0Parker\u00a0said they knew they had to act quickly to try and save his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an instinctive thing,\u201d he said. \u201cWe knew we needed to act right now. We can\u2019t stand around talking, and that\u2019s why there wasn\u2019t any conversation between us. I don\u2019t remember saying anything. We just looked at each other as if to say, \u2018we need to grab him right now\u2019, and we did.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just a reaction to what was going on there. He needed us [the police] in that one instant to make sure he doesn\u2019t do something stupid. But then from that moment on, he needed to be in the care of people who can help what he\u2019s going through mentally, to put him in a better place.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really nice feeling to be recognised for having done something positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we take for granted the things that we do sometimes because we\u2019re dealing with people so regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Essex Police Federation Chair Laura Heggie said the officers\u2019 quick actions had belied the danger they faced.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout hesitation or concern for their own safety, Sgt\u00a0Ambrose\u00a0and PC\u00a0Parker\u00a0got his man to safety while ensuring he and others weren\u2019t injured,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was real teamwork, and through their actions, they made sure the man got the mental health support he needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are very worthy award winners, and we\u2019re very proud of them both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sgt\u00a0Ambrose\u00a0and PC\u00a0Parker\u00a0will attend the first ever Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards \u2013 which will combine celebrating 2020 and 2021 winners \u2013 this September. Overall winners for both years will be announced and they will go on to compete in the National Police Bravery Awards.<\/p>\n
The Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards are sponsored by Uniform Mortgages.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"