THREE Essex Police Officers from Chigwell and Grays who battled to save the life of a man trapped inside a blazing vehicle have won an Essex Police Federation Bravery Award.<\/p>\n
Temporary Inspector Rebecca Lee, PC Larry Litchfield \u2013 pictured – and PC Scott Thomas attended a road accident in July 2018 in which a driver had ploughed his vehicle into a tree.<\/p>\n
When the officers arrived at the scene near Tilbury Docks, the vehicle was ablaze with the driver trapped inside.<\/p>\n
PC Litchfield tried to use the fire extinguisher from his patrol vehicle, but it had little effect on the growing fire. He then slowed the traffic down and managed to get a tanker to stop in order to use the larger extinguishers they carry.<\/p>\n
T\/Insp Lee and PC Thomas arrived on the scene and all the officers joined PC Litchfield in trying to douse the increasing flames.<\/p>\n
The officers made repeated attempts to try and rescue the driver, but they just couldn\u2019t get near enough to the vehicle as it was just too hot and too dangerous.<\/p>\n
Despite their incredibly brave efforts, sadly the driver died on the scene.<\/p>\n
PC Litchfield said: \u201cI\u2019m one of those that will just deal with whatever I\u2019ve got in front of me and I\u2019ll just assess it when I get there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never come across a fire that close up before, and how powerful it was. You just feel a little bit helpless that you can\u2019t get this guy out.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I stood in the carriageway, waving my arms, trying to stop a tanker from coming down and thinking that they\u2019ve got a fire extinguisher and it would be quite a big one.<\/p>\n
\u201cI managed to get the tanker to stop. I went over to the car and tried to put the fire out. We still couldn\u2019t get close enough and the fire extinguisher still wasn\u2019t doing too much. We just couldn\u2019t get to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that it was bittersweet to be nominated for the Award \u201cbecause there wasn\u2019t a happy ending.\u201d<\/p>\n
Essex Police Federation Chair Laura Heggie said the officers had shown great courage and tenacity in trying to save the man\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a horrifying scene for these officers to come across,\u201d she said. \u201cThe car was absolutely engulfed in flames and they did all they could to try and save the man\u2019s life. Sadly, on this occasion there was not a better outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura added: \u201cPolice officers are much more than crime fighters and this trio were acting in the best traditions of Essex Police Officers.\u201d<\/p>\n
T\/Insp Lee and PCs Litchfield and Thomas will 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":"