Life saving officers who pulled a woman out of a river have been named winners of a Bravery Award at Avon and Somerset Police Federation’s inaugural Recognition Awards

8 October 2024

Two officers who pulled a woman out of a river in freezing temperatures have been named winners of a Bravery Award at Avon and Somerset Police Federation’s inaugural Recognition Awards.

On 2 January 2022, PC Chris Cook and PC Amarnie Crabtree were on duty in Bath when they received a call about a woman who had told a colleague she was suicidal and was intending to go into the River Avon to take her own life.

PC Cook and PC Crabtree attended the home address of the woman to investigate.

While they were there, police received another call saying that there was a woman in the River Avon at Locksbrook Trading Estate. The two officers immediately made their way to the river.

When they arrived, they saw a woman three metres down the steep river bank and submerged in water up to her neck. PC Cook attempted to engage with the woman, who was very emotionally distressed. She had been in the water for at least half an hour by that time and it was clear her life was at risk.

PC Crabtree said: “We wanted to get to her as quickly as possible because she was in deep, and it’s quite a fast-flowing river with an undercurrent and there’s sadly been deaths there before.”

The officers tried to establish a rapport with the woman, before making their way down the steep and slippery river bank to the water’s edge. The officers continued to try and persuade the woman to come back to the bank, but all efforts to resolve the situation were unsuccessful and the woman started to swim out towards the middle of the river.

The officers knew they had to go into the water after her, as specialist equipment and staff would not arrive in time. PC Cook forced his way through the bank vegetation and waded into the river up to his waist to try to rescue the woman.

He reached down and took hold of the submerged woman, dragging her above water. He then pulled her towards the bank, with the help of PC Crabtree. The officers put a throw line around her, ensuring that she didn’t return to the river. Once safely on the banks of the river, PC Cook continually reassured the woman, who was very distressed.

The woman was breathing but uncooperative, and it proved difficult for the officers to physically manoeuvre her to the top of the bank. PC Cook recalled: “The bank was overgrown, it was pretty steep and we’d made it very wet, so it was hard work.”

With the help of other officers, who had now arrived on scene, they were able to safely bring her from the river’s edge, through the vegetation and onto the top of the bank.

The woman was freezing cold and shivering and PC Crabtree carried out immediate first aid until an ambulance arrived. The ambulance crew took the woman to hospital for further assessment and she has since made a full recovery.

PC Crabtree said: “You join this job to help people and that doesn’t happen every day, but that day we really saved someone’s life. When I heard we’d been nominated for this award, I thought: ‘Wow’. It’s great to be recognised for our work.”

Avon and Somerset Police Federation’s Acting Chair, Iain Prideaux, said: “What life saving heroes. This incident once again shows how police officers are much more than crime fighters.

“Chris and Amarnie followed all their training to act calmly and professionally, while always considering the welfare of the distressed woman.

“There is no doubt that their quick-thinking and determination saved her life that day. We are very proud of them and they are worthy winners of their Awards.”

PC Cook and PC Crabtree will attend the Avon and Somerset Police Federation Recognition Awards on Thursday 3 October.

The lead sponsor for the Awards is the ASPF Group Insurance Scheme.

Also sponsoring are Serve and Protect Credit Union, George Burrows, Niche, Uniform Mortgages, Warren & Co, The Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, Accord, The Avon and Somerset Police Benevolent Fund, Pointers Financial and Bluline.

The hashtag for the event is #ASPFAwards.

If you have been affected by this story, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123.