Good luck to Gwent Bravery Awards nominees

9 July 2025

Gwent Police Federation chair Matthew Candy has sent a good luck message to the four members nominated for a Police Bravery Award.

PC Ryan Blair-Baggs, PC Robbie Higgins, PC Abigail Jenkins-Murphy, and Special Constable Mark Lee, who is also a personal safety trainer with the Force, will be attending tomorrow's (Thursday 10 July) event in London.

Their nomination comes after they risked their own safety attempting to rescue a man from a burning car.

Matthew said: “Ryan, Robbie, Abigail, and Mark acted in the finest traditions of the police service, putting their own safety at risk to try to save a person’s life and protect the wider public.

(Left to right) SC Mark Lee, PC Abigail Jenkins-Murphy, PC Robbie Higgins,
PC Ryan Blair-Baggs.

“They were called back from the burning vehicle for their own safety, but displayed courage and teamwork to tackle the flames and get the person away from the fire.

“And while, ultimately, there was a sad outcome to the incident, they can all be proud of their actions.

“They are thoroughly deserving of their nomination for a bravery award and, on behalf of Gwent Police Federation, I wish them all the best at the awards.”

The four officers had responded to reports that a high-risk missing person had been located in Cwmbran, near Llanyrafon golf course.

Ryan was the first on the scene and attempted to speak to the man who was still in his car.

Poured petrol

However, the person poured petrol from a can over himself and ignited it, engulfing himself and the car in flames.

Robbie, Abigail, and Mark arrived on the scene shortly after. They set off fire extinguishers into the vehicle and managed to get the person out of the car, and attempted to put out the flames on his clothes.

Colleagues called the officers back amid fears that the car would explode. However, they continued to tackle the flames that engulfed the man and moved him to a safer place.

And while, sadly, the man later died from his injuries, the officers’ actions gave him and his wife a few days to be together.