Five police officers from Lancashire Constabulary have been honoured with National Police Bravery Awards for rescuing a woman from a river in Blackburn in July 2022. The officers—PCs Sam Stinchon, Taylor Gregson, Katherine Maxwell, Mike McMahon, and Vanessa Fowler—received the awards at a ceremony on Thursday.
The incident occurred on 21 July 2022 after a man reported that his mother had ended her life and her body was in a river. Upon arrival, the officers navigated through grassland and climbed over a wall with a 10-foot (3m) drop into the water, where a man was holding the woman above the surface.
The officers jumped into the river to assist, providing first aid and coordinating a safe removal plan. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service deployed an aerial platform with a ladder to lift the woman on a stretcher from the water.
The woman was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital, where she was placed in a medically induced coma for 10 days but later died. Chief Constable Chris Rowley praised the officers' "courage and selflessness in trying to save the life of somebody in crisis."
Rachel Hanley, Chair of Lancashire Police Federation, stated: "We all are rightly proud of them. They represent the very best of Lancashire Constabulary." The annual awards, hosted by the Police Federation of England and Wales, recognise officers for outstanding commitment to their role.
