On Tuesday 27 th May 2008, a report was received of a female standing on the outside of the parapet of Barnstaple Longbridge, who was thought to be contemplating suicide. Despite the efforts of police officers who had attended the scene of the incident, the female leapt from the bridge, land in the waters below.

Sergeant Pearce took immediate control of the incident. PS Pearce, PC Irwin and PC Browne entered the water to retrieve the female. Constables Irwin and Pearce entering the water up to their necks in order to bring the female to safety. Despite the dangerous conditions at the scene and the potential hazards and risks to their own safety, it was with great perseverance and bravery that the officers gave first aid and reassurance to the female.

At 2030 on Wednesday 23 rd July 2008, PC Brice was called to a report of a male collapsed on the bank of the river Dart at Totnes. PC Brice, who was on his own, located the man on a very steep section of the riverbank some 10 feet above the river.

PC Brice approached the heavily intoxicated male, the male however wandered away from him, losing his footing and falling face first into the river. The male was motionless and being carried upstream away from the riverbank.

PC Brice immediately removed his utility vest, slid down the bank and entered the water. PC Brice was not a strong swimmer, but he waded 20 feet out into the river which at this point was up to his neck. He managed to grasp a bag the male was wearing to pull the male towards him. The male appeared to be unconscious but as PC Brice towed him back to the riverbank the casualty started to cough and vomit water.

Other officers soon arrived at the scene and secured a life belt around the man to prevent him being carried away by the current. Once attended by paramedics and with the assistance of Devon Fire and Rescue Service, the man was taken to hospital and discharged two days later.

At 0130 on Tuesday 19 th March 2008 PC Waldron and other officers were called to a report that an intoxicated female had fallen into deep water at the Quayside area of Kingsbridge. The temperature had dropped, making any time spent in the freezing water extremely perilous.

As officers searched the quayside, they heard the female cry out for help. PC Waldron was the first to spot the female in the water. She was cold, wet and exhausted. Without a moments hesitation PC Waldron climbed down into the freezing water. As he began to manoeuvre the female to the quay wall the female slipped out of consciousness.

With the assistance of other officers, PC Waldron continued to administer first aid to the unconscious female until the arrival of the ambulance.

As a result of his courageous and swift action PC Waldron was able to prevent a tragic accident from occurring.

A dramatic incident occurred in the town of Perranporth on Sunday 10 th March 2008 when Cornwall was experiencing a weekend of torrential rainfall, storm force winds and a spring tide.

PCSO Matt Thomas was on the seafront at Perranporth warning his sons about the perils of standing too close to stormy waters. As he did so he witnessed two boys aged about 10 yrs being swept off the seawall by a large wave.

The children were dragged into the water and tossed around violently by the force of the sea, which was extremely rough. The two boys could easily have lost their lives. PCSO Thomas saw the danger they were in, he ran to the edge of the sea wall and dived into the water.

PCSO Thomas is a trained lifeguard and used his lifesaving skills to pull the children out of the water. Nonetheless, he took the obvious risk to himself in entering the sea.

Pier head, River Mersey, Liverpool

An unidentified & distressed male purposely jumped into the river as police patrols arrived to help him.

PS Lawrence assessed that the male could be saved and removed his body armour, equipment belt and boots. He carefully climbed over a safety barrier and down a wall to a ledge where he was then able to enter the river. PS Lawrence began to swim to the male, who was being carried down the river by the tide. The male was seen to be lying low and face down in the water. They were both carried along in the current, along the length of a cruise liner landing stage.

As PS Lawrence and the male neared the end of the landing stage, having covered some 350 yards and spent over 7 minutes in the water, PS Lawrence managed to reach the male. He pulled the males face from under the water and raised it above the surface. He was limp and unresponsive. PS Lawrence began to tow the male away from the sea wall and held onto the male for another 150yds to try and save his life.

The Liverpool pilot boat recovered PS Lawrence and the male from the water, some 12 minutes after he had entered it. He was cold and close to exhaustion and taken to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital for monitoring.

The male did not recover despite the joint efforts of PS Lawrence and the pilot boat crew.

Sea Bank Road Promenade, Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay, North Wales

Constables Walne and Stewart were returning home after a night shift when they saw a woman heading for the sea on foot. She appeared to be arguing with a man who was with her.

The woman continued into the sea for about 20yds, PC Walne and PC Williams then caught up with her. The water was waist deep but with a heavy swell threatening to make them lose their footing. They brought the woman to the shore without a struggle, using the jetty to help them stay upright.

Craig-y-Don, Llandudno, North Wales

A woman was reported as being in the sea and the two officers arrived once the woman had been in the water for about 15 minutes. The woman did not respond to calls from the officers and continued to wade toward deeper water. The coastguard was called and they launched a lifeboat. Realising that to wait any longer may be fatal, constables Gifford and Donnelly entered the water. The water was about 5 feet deep as they reached the woman, who they then brought forcibly to the shore. The woman had filled her pockets with rocks and was intent on suicide. She was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Port Penrhyn, Menai Straits, Bangor, North Wales

PC Openshaw and another officer were called following a report that four children were cut off by the tide. On arrival they could see two girls about 150metres out to sea, apparently stuck in mud on a sandbank. The tide was coming in fast, water was around their ankles. Officers called for Coastguard and PC Roberts went to find a boat. PC Openshaw could see the water had risen to their waists and was concerned that Coastguard would not arrive in time. He entered the water, out of his depth and swam to the children. He brought the girls safely back to shore, completing a 300m swim against the tide as well as swimming through a shoal of jelly fish..