Published: July 20, 2012
Burnham police to receive Royal bravery awards for mud rescue

Three courageous Burnham-On-Sea police officers who saved the life of a woman in thick mud on Brean beach are to receive special bravery awards to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, it has been announced this week.

PC Ryan Dinham, PC Adrian Jones and PCSO Peter Williams will each receive an 'Act of Bravery Award' from Avon and Somerset Police Authority to mark the Jubilee.

The three will receive the awards for their rescue of a suicidal woman at Brean in January 2011.

Police spokeswoman Rebecca Hehir said: "After locating the woman's car, PC’s Jones, Dinham and PCSO Williams discovered footprints in the wet sand and could see a body, lying on the mud in the distance, with the tide coming in fast."

"The woman had fallen in the mud and was suffering exhaustion from trying to free herself. The suction of the sand and the weight of the woman made her rescue very difficult."

"The officers were up to their thighs in the mud, but they eventually managed to get the woman safely to the dunes where they did everything possible to keep her warm until the ambulance arrived. If they had not managed to free her she would have been overwhelmed by the tide and could have died."

Chief Constable Colin Port said: "Police officers and staff can at times face terrifying and unpredictable situations. When they do, they show remarkable selfless courage. I am delighted the Police Authority will formally recognise significant acts of bravery."

Avon and Somerset Police Authority Chair Dr Peter Heffer added: "The Police Authority wanted to acknowledge the bravery and determination of those who work tirelessly to prevent crime and go beyond the call of duty."

Dr Heffer will present the Act of Bravery Awards at the next Chief Constable’s Commendations ceremony in September at Police HQ in Portishead.

The three Burnham officers also received Royal Humane Society Awards for the same rescue earlier this year.