Fed members nominated for bravery award for attempted house fire rescue

3 July 2026

Five Northamptonshire Police officers who risked their lives attempting to rescue people trapped inside a devastating house fire have been nominated for a bravery award.

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.

When officers arrived, the large residential property was already engulfed in flames.

 

 

Brad ran towards the burning building carrying a first aid bag, preparing to provide emergency care to any survivors.

He said: “The house was engulfed in fire. The flames were on the ceiling, the walls, everywhere.”

Two British Transport Police officers were already on the scene assisting a survivor who reported that several people remained 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.

Trapped

He said: “Someone threw a wet towel over my head, and I climbed up the ladder to try to get in the bedroom window.

“The only way I can describe the heat was like opening an oven door and standing too close, but times it by a thousand.

“All I was thinking was there are people in there and there's a child in there the same age as my son.

“I tried my best to get in but was hit with this wall of heat, which nearly knocked me off the ladder.

“Your head's saying you need to go in and help them but it's like there's a force field of heat stopping you.

“It got to a point where, if I stayed up there or if I managed to get in, I wouldn’t be able to get back down.”

Will, Nik, Chris and Lewis meanwhile, were searching for another way inside the property.

Falling debris

The officers were determined to reach the people inside, despite facing overwhelming heat and falling debris.

Will said: “It felt like my cheeks were melting and I was fighting all the fear and pain in my body because the only thing on my mind at that time was to do what I can to get them out.”

Chris said: “When I got there and saw the situation, I knew it was going to be a moment I would never forget.”

Nik added: “I have been to several fire callouts but, with this one, you could see the glow on the way to the incident. You could feel the heat as we got closer to the fire.”

Will described the moment the officers committed to entering the building together.

He said: “Lewis and Nik said we would go in together and come out however that may be.

“There were flames coming through the floorboards and we knew that we might not get out but their only hope was us.”

Thick smoke

Chris smashed a window to gain entry. Inside, conditions were almost unbearable. The officers crawled through thick smoke as burning debris fell around them.

Nik said: “Inside, the hollow area of the house was engulfed in flames, and the stairs had been completely burnt through.”

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

Will said: “I remember Nik shouting 'the roof is falling in’.”

Chris added: “At the moment tiles and slates were falling from the ceiling, we just had to get out. In another 10 or 20 seconds, we would have been trapped.”

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

Nik said: “Something fell and dropped down the back of my body armour.

Melted boots

“That hurt, but it made me look up and see that it was time to get out. Will’s hair was actually steaming.

“The heat was ridiculous. The hair on my arms was singeing. The bottom of my boots had melted.”

After leaving the property, Nik became dizzy and was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

The incident continues to affect all of the officers.

Will said: “The biggest thing for me is that I hope the family know there was a group of people doing absolutely everything they could to get to that family.”

"It still bothers me that we could not save them and I would do the same again if I had to.”

Massive risk

Brad added: “I know I did the best I could and put myself at massive risk, but it sort of eats away that I couldn't save them.”

Echoing their comments, Lewis said: “I still remember the incident like it was yesterday. My heartfelt condolences remain with the family. It was a tragic incident that no one should ever experience.”

Northamptonshire Police Federation Chair Sam Dobbs said. “It must be every police officer's nightmare to arrive at an incident such as this prior to the experts from the fire and rescue service. 

“Police officers have to make split-second decisions, with their core role to protect life central to their actions. 

“There is often a fine line between recklessness and bravery. Society should be very thankful that these officers were prepared to be selfless enough to put their own life at risk to save others.”