In a display of extraordinary courage that has been hailed as 'truly heroic', two police officers from Thames Valley Police fearlessly entered a ferociously burning building to save a man's life in Aylesbury.
The harrowing incident unfolded on Wednesday afternoon when PCs Ben Gibb and Liam King were first on the scene at the smoke-logged property on Mandeville Road. With flames visibly raging inside and black smoke billowing from the windows, the officers acted instantly, without waiting for fire crews.
A Race Against Time
Body-worn camera footage captures the heart-stopping moment the officers, armed only with their batons, smashed their way through the front door. They were immediately met with a wall of thick, acrid smoke and intense heat.
Undeterred by the perilous conditions, they pushed forward into the inferno, calling out for anyone inside. Their calls were answered by faint sounds from within the smoke-filled dwelling. Following the noise, they discovered a disorientated man, who was struggling to escape the suffocating fumes.
The officers quickly guided the vulnerable man back through the choking smoke and out to the safety of the front garden, just as firefighters arrived to tackle the blaze.
Praise from the Highest Level
The incredible bravery of PCs Gibb and King has drawn widespread acclaim. Superintendent Emma Garside, local policing area commander for Buckinghamshire, commended their selfless actions.
'The officers showed immense bravery in entering a burning building to save the life of a member of the public, putting themselves in harm's way to protect others,' she said. 'This was a heroic act and I am incredibly proud of them both.'
Both officers were later treated for the effects of smoke inhalation but have since been released, hailed as true local heroes for their instinctive and life-saving response.
