The incident related to a seven year old child who had fallen into the canal near to Talbot Road in Swinton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire on Monday 29th August 2011.

The officers were working as part of a team of seven officers on South Yorkshire Police’s Tactical Support Group. The team were informed of the incident via personal radios and heard that the child had been spotted in the water and that there had been a failed effort by a member of the public to enter the canal and save the young boy. This man been forced to give up due to the cold. The force helicopter SY99 could see the child in the canal and the officers used the position of the helicopter hovering above the scene to guide them to the exact location.

Upon arrival the officers noticed two local police officers standing in a patch of brambles at the side of the canal with a ladder. The team ran to that location and PC John Porter arrived first and immediately prepared to enter the water. Entry into the canal was not easy from this point and quite a few minor injuries were gained from the brambles and foliage growing on the canal side but PC Porter gave no consideration to this discomfort. A safety line was attached to PC Porter and without any hesitation he entered the water.

John was in the water for about 20 seconds before he found the boy and managed to pass him to officers waiting at the side of the canal. The child was passed to PC Lewis who is a trained PSU medic and he immediately started to perform CPR in an attempt to revive the child. PC Porter was recovered from the canal and he then assisted PC Lewis as he is also a trained PSU medic. They performed mouth to mouth with the child who vomited which made the experience very unpleasant. The officers tried to use a vent aid but this hampered their efforts so, placing the welfare of the young boy first, they discarded this and carried on. They worked hard as a pair to revive the child and medical assistance continued for some minutes until
paramedics arrived and PC Lewis and PC Porter released the boy to their care. The boy underwent significant medical interventions at hospital but unfortunately never recovered consciousness and died two days later.

I have to single out PC John Porter and PC Andy Lewis for specific praise due to their pivotal roles but would also like to acknowledge that all officers on the team were not only willing but determined that this child would receive the best chance that he could get and that discomfort and personal risk would not deter them.

PC Porter and PC Lewis showed immense courage, strength and tenacity in their attempts to save the young child risking injury and danger to themselves in a selfless act of bravery.

On Monday 26th September 2011, at approximately 10.45pm, a 58 year old woman was sitting on the edge of the Royal Victoria Dock, Canning Town. She had been drinking heavily. When her handbag slipped into the chilly waters below, she ignored the signs that warn of the dangers of entering the water and attempted to retrieve it. The water was extremely cold and the area poorly lit. The woman was immediately overcome by the overpowering & concealed undercurrents. She was swept into the centre of the Dock. Fortunately, whilst struggling for her life, she managed to grab hold of a buoy. Her plight was noticed by a nearby security guard who called the emergency services at 10.52pm.

PC Robin Whatling and PC Alex Stechman were patrolling nearby. They responded to the call, arriving at the dock six minutes later.

Both Officers immediately attempted to communicate with the woman but could get no response. The Security Guards confirmed she had not responded to them for approximately five minutes. Due to the dark conditions they had difficulty maintaining clear sight of her. Both officers realized that the situation was critical. They asked for the Marine Support Unit to attend immediately but were told that they would be at least ten minutes. Both officer’s knew that a delay in the woman’s rescue was likely to result in her death.

The officers immediately implemented a plan to save the woman whilst preserving their own safety. PC Whatling prepared to enter the water by removing his protective vest and footwear while PC Stechman obtained two lifebuoys. PC Whatling then climbed down the dock side and entered the water with both buoys around his chest. PC Stechman positioned himself on the dock edge and maintained contact with the control room and the police helicopter.

PC Whatling swam to the woman. Suffering from shock and exhaustion her grip slipped from the buoy she had been holding and she began to submerge. PC Whatling struggled to pull her head from underwater. He managed to position her to so he could put the life-ring over her head. He then swam her back to the side of the dock ensuring her head remained above the water-line. On reaching the dock edge, PC Whatling managed to haul the woman onto the steps of the ladder, while PC Stechman assisted in dragging her up the steps to safety.

The woman was treated briefly at scene by the ambulance service who then conveyed her to hospital. She was fortunate to only be suffering from mild hypothermia and shock. PC Whatling was also examined but released at scene and able to resume his duties.

The officers’ selfless bravery and swiftness of thought prevented the incident ending in tragedy, ultimately saving the woman’s life.