Sgt Charlie Thompson risked his life to prevent a man from setting himself on fire at a petrol station in Stratford-upon-Avon. The officer spotted an opportunity and acted fast to tackle the man, who had doused himself in petrol and was waving a lighter. The incident could have resulted in a devastating explosion.
Quick-Thinking Officer Averts Disaster
The man demanded that other people, including the mayor, be brought to the forecourt. Sgt Thompson and a negotiation team attempted to talk the man down, but their efforts had no effect. Spotting a distraction, the officer rushed forward and tackled the man to the ground. Other officers moved in and removed the lighter, while a firefighter sprayed the man with foam to prevent any risk of ignition.
Nominated for National Bravery Award
For his actions, Sgt Thompson has been nominated for the Police Federation National Police Bravery Awards 2026. Acting Chief Constable David Gardner praised the officer, stating, 'We are extremely proud of Sgt Thompson who demonstrated incredible fortitude, empathy, and quick-thinking in his actions that day. It is thanks to him, and the other officers on the ground that there wasn’t a tragedy that day in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is more than worthy of the Bravery Award.'
Support for the Distressed Individual
The man who was tackled is understood to have received support and been rehoused since the incident. Police emphasised that a petrol station explosion could be disastrous, noting that last year in Rome, 29 people were injured following a petrol station fire.
Officer Credits Team Effort
Sgt Thompson expressed his gratitude, saying, 'I couldn’t have done it without the team behind me – we co-ordinated, we worked together, and it was together that we stopped what could have been a terrible loss of life. I’m overwhelmed to have been nominated for a Bravery Award – it’s always a good day when our hard work in the police is recognised like this. I hope that the chap I tackled is doing better now – it will have been a very low moment for him, and we hope he’s managed to pick himself back up and get the support he needed.'
