Four people from Morecambe have been honoured after saving a vulnerable woman from drowning.
Their bravery was recognised at the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s annual Police Public Bravery Awards, with a silver medal for their actions.
The prestigious awards were hosted at The Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield by Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, Lauren Poultney.
The ceremony was held to honour the brave members of the public who have placed themselves in dangerous situations, carrying out courageous and selfless acts to help protect others, defend their communities, prevent and detect crime and actively assist the police.
Back on Saturday January 7, a woman was seen lying on the beach, despite it being a cold and blustery day.
A man walking his dog called an ambulance and made his way onto the beach. Simultaneously, a group having breakfast in a nearby hotel saw the situation and made their way out on to the promenade.
As the group – who have not been named - neared the woman, they very quickly realised the imminent danger she was in, with water lapping against her face. Between the group, they managed to get the woman to her feet and started walking and carrying her out of danger, walking through water that was rapidly cutting off their route back.
They were joined by two police officers and were left with no alternative other than to negotiate water several feet deep to get the woman to the safety of a waiting ambulance.
It took them 25 minutes to bring the woman to safety. In that time, the beach they had walked across to get to her had become fully submerged. The actions of these four people meant that the woman could be treated and back home with her family that day.
Lancashire Constabulary’s Chief Constable Chris Rowley has commended the four on their bravery saying: “These awards are really special and having attended the ceremony and listened to the numerous stories of bravery by the public, I am really humbled.
‘’It is so great to see and recognise the very best of humanity. The actions of those four members of the public undoubtedly saved that woman’s life on that cold, January morning.
“I want to thank them for the incredible bravery that day. They acted quickly, and prioritized saving a vulnerable person, risking their own safety to do so.”
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