Worthing police officers commended for saving man’s life

PC Caroline Bond and another officer, who cannot be named, had been called to a car park in Worthing on the evening of 14 October last year.

Police had been alerted that there was a man on the wrong side of the safety barrier at the car park and the two officers, who were investigating another unrelated incident, diverted to the car park.

When they got there they found the man, though at that stage he was still on the right side of the barrier.

He was clearly distressed though and as they started to talk to him he began to climb the safety barrier threatening to jump.

Without any thought for their own safety the two officers dashed forward to the edge and managed to grab hold of the man and drag him back to safety.

They have now been awarded Royal Humane Society Certificates of Commendation and have been praised by the Society Secretary, Andrew Chapman, for their actions.

Announcing the awards he said: “They acted on instinct and despite the possible danger of one or both of them being dragged over with the man if he managed to jump they dashed forward and prevented the man from jumping.

“If he had carried out his threat to jump then he would have been killed.

“They did a truly brilliant job and saved the man’s life.

“They richly deserve the awards they are to receive.”

The Royal Humane Society is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.

It was founded in 1774 by two of the day’s eminent medical men, William Hawes and Thomas Cogan, whose primary motive was to promote techniques of resuscitation.

However, as it emerged that numerous people were prepared to put their own lives at risk to save others, the awards scheme evolved, and today a variety of awards are made depending on the bravery involved.

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