An off-duty officer who ran towards distressed screams with no protection or back up as he tried to save a nine-year-old girl who was stabbed has been nominated for the national Police Bravery Awards 2024.

On 28 July 2022, an officer from Lincolnshire Police was off duty. He had been out socialising and was not in possession of his PPE.

As he walked through Boston Town centre, and along Wormgate, he heard a loud metallic sound like a shutter followed by a distressed scream. Without fear for his own safety, he ran towards the scream.

Unbeknownst to the officer, he was to be confronted with the terrible scene of a child who had been stabbed. He saw a large number of members of the public, including the victim’s mother, and a male leaving the scene whom he believed to be the suspect.

He ran towards the commotion despite having no protection and no backup. He had to make a split-second decision to try to save the life of Lilia Valutyte, in spite of the fact the suspect may well return.

There was a large crowd gathering at this time and having identified himself as a police officer he tried to reassure the family he was doing all he could for their daughter, checking whether 999 had been dialled while providing CPR.

Sadly, Lilia passed away within the next hour.

The suspect was located within a 48-hour period and the officer was committed to ensuring he provided a video recorded interview (VRI) swiftly in spite of the trauma he had experienced.

Having made his way back to the police station clearly shaken by the incident, he provided swabs accordingly, clothing and a VRI detailing what he had seen and the first aid he provided. As the father of a similar-aged child, this incident resonated with him.

Lincolnshire Police Federation Chair Helen Stamp said: “This officer showed immense bravery not only during the incident but in the subsequent months. He did not hesitate in his actions, despite not knowing what danger he and members of the public may face and we are so proud his bravery has been recognised and can be celebrated.”

Lincolnshire Police Chief Superintendent Kate Anderson, head of local policing, said: “This brave officer heard a scream, and recognising that someone may have been harmed, he ran towards that danger and towards what ended up being the death of a child. His actions on that July night in 2022 would be considered brave under any circumstances, however, the fact that he was off duty highlights his bravery.

“He provided CPR to Lilia, and his work was described by the deputy director of EMAS as ‘excellent care’.

“His initial care was exemplary, and he tried his best to treat Lilia until help arrived. His quick thinking, and also his narrative that was passed to our control room, allowed for a swift dispatch of appropriate assets – including volunteer paramedics, crews and also the HEMS team that attended the hospital.

“He did all of this knowing the person who stabbed Lilia could have been nearby, that his colleagues may be some time away, and that he himself was at personal risk without any personal protective equipment to protect himself. The officer was brave in his actions that night, and continued to show exceptional levels of resilience, commitment and bravery as the investigation progressed, being a key witness.”