PC Angela Bradley PC Colin Morrison PC Gordon Connolly

On 5th January 1983, during a winter storm, a 23 year old holiday maker Allstair Anthony from Glasgow, had leapt into the high tide to try and rescue his dog that had bolted into the water. This led to a chain of events that sadly saw three officers lose their lives.

PC Bradley, Connolly, Morrison and colleague Pat Abram arrived on the scene and three lifebelts and rope to Allstair. The officers entered the sea trying to rescue the civilian.

The weather conditions and sea were horrendous. The waves were pounding the sea wall. Ropes and lifebelts were thrown to Allstair but hem the officers entered the water. PC Bradley and Connolly disappeared from view and had been washed out into the sea. PC Morrison eventually lost his fight for life in the icy sea. PC Abram valiantly tried to rescue Morrison and the civilian. Allstair was clinging onto the sea wall when a wave battered him and pulled him back into the sea and out of sight. 

A rope was repeatedly thrown to Abram but he was unable to grab it. A rope then wrapped around his neck and although there was a risk of breaking his neck or strangling him fire brigade officers pulled him to shore and he survived.

Information taken from article in Blackpool Gazette Reporter Steve Canavan