Bravery Awards: good luck to Northamptonshire nominees

8 July 2026

The five Northamptonshire Police nominees for the Police Bravery Awards have received a message of good luck from their Federation branch ahead of this year’s event.

Sergeant Will Barr, who was then a PC, PC Brad Bowman, PC Nik Hawke, PC Chris King and PC Lewis Desborough have been recognised for their actions during a fatal house fire in Rushton on 28 March 2025, in which three people, including a young child, sadly lost their lives.

The officers repeatedly exposed themselves to extreme danger in a desperate effort to save those trapped inside.

The large residential property was already engulfed in flames when officers arrived with reports of people trapped upstairs after the internal staircase had collapsed.

Brad volunteered to climb a ladder positioned beneath an upstairs window where the occupants were believed to be trapped but was prevented from getting inside by a wall of heat.

Will, Nik, Chris and Lewis found another way into the property where they were met with thick smoke and burning debris falling around them.

As conditions deteriorated further, the officers were in danger of becoming trapped.

They withdrew only when it became clear they could no longer continue safely.

Difficult and dangerous

Northamptonshire Police Federation chair Sam Dodds said. “The officers were faced with an unimaginably difficult and dangerous situation, and their instinct was to run towards the danger in the hope of saving others.

"They showed exceptional courage in circumstances that, thankfully, most people will never experience.

“They continued searching for ways to reach those trapped inside despite the overwhelming conditions and only withdrew when it became impossible to continue safely.

"While the outcome of the incident was heartbreaking, the officers displayed the most incredible bravery to try to prevent the loss of life.

“On behalf of the Federation branch, I wish them all the best for the awards."

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