Specials reflect on ‘real team effort’ saving man’s life on shift

1 September 2026

When Special Constable Sophie Hyde set out on her first-ever shift as a volunteer with Northamptonshire Police, she never imagined the evening that lay ahead.

Fellow Special Constable Lorna Montecalvo, an experienced volunteer, was asked to oversee Sophie’s debut on the frontline.

The aim was to keep the shift light and focused on low-end jobs, with a third Special, Pete Isom, also in tow to prevent certain operations from effectively being single-crewed.

“This is policing, so you can never say dealing with something serious is the last thing you expect to do, but in the circumstances, I thought there was a fair chance the evening would play out as intended,” Lorna said.

 

(left to right) Pete Isom, Lorna Montecalvo and Sophie Hyde

 

“And for a while, it did – but it certainly didn’t end that way.

“Suddenly, we were made aware of serious welfare concerns over a man who had gone missing from the Elton and Warmington area. Not only were we nearby at the time, but living near Elton myself, I know the area like the back of my hand – so in my mind, it wasn’t even an option not to take the call on.”

After the missing man’s son had provided the Force with his most recent known location, the three officers were soon on their way to Warmington Mill, located on the River Nene.

This rang alarm bells around the possibility of the victim having entered a body of water, and when a member of the public reported a backpack found on the banks of the river, these concerns intensified.

Floating body

“We had to run a mile and a half to the backpack. When we got to it, there was a clear indication of a path into the water,” Lorna continued.

“Pete then located a body floating on the surface, and as the strongest swimmer out of us, I knew I’d be going in.”

With Pete remaining at this entry point, it was Sophie’s job on-land to relay information to the control room, which in turn could communicate with the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

“They [Lorna and Pete] were doing their parts in the water, so I knew I had to hold up my end on the radio. If I had gone in too, it’s a risk which could result in radio silence and then we’re all in trouble,” Sophie said.

“When we first got the call, I was nervous, but I knew we had to do it. By this point, however, it was just about giving the man a fighting chance – nothing else mattered.”

Despite falling around five feet from a high bank into the river due to late-night darkness, Lorna was not deterred from swimming out to the victim.

But it was only once she had reached him the ‘real battle’ began, as Lorna now had to contend with deep water while getting the struggling man, with a heavy build, to safety.

“I had to stay as calm as possible, because I knew if he panicked, his weight would drown me. There was one point the bank didn’t seem to get any closer, even though I was swimming, and that’s when you start to worry.

Panicked

“But I knew I just had to do it. I used all the strength I had in me to keep pulling and pushing him forward.”

This perseverance finally paid off when Pete got within touching distance of the man and was able to take over, dragging him up onto steady ground with the help of NPAS crew, who themselves had taken a risk to land so close to the incident.

From here, the man was put into a recovery position and given medical attention before being transported to hospital to recover from severe hypothermia as well as pneumonia in his left lung.

Sophie, whose day job is part of Force staff, confirmed he is now in a place of safety for ongoing mental health difficulties.

“The main thing is he is physically okay and continues to get the support he needs,” she said.

“From my perspective, while we still don’t have full closure on what’s happening with him, I don’t think it will quite feel like we did what we did. Until then, I think he’s going to be at the forefront of our minds.

“Despite this, I can safely say it hasn’t put me off. It was good to get back out there [on shift] the following week, and in the long run, I think that immediate exposure will stand me in good stead for the future.”

Exposure

Following praise from both fellow Force personnel – including Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet – and members of the public, Lorna echoed these thoughts around the rescue, feeling surreal to look back on.

“I think I am still processing it all now. It was such a dangerous incident, and my body just took over from my brain – I just did what I did without thinking.

“What I reflect on most proudly is that, out of nowhere, all three of us each knew the parts we had to play without even speaking to each other. It was a real team effort, and Sophie did amazingly well. She will make a great Special.

“By the end, I had absolutely no strength left, but I know I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Branch chair Sam Dobbs said: “This is a fantastic example of the difference our Special Constables can make when it matters most. 

“What Sophie, Lorna and Pete did that night was an incredible demonstration of courage, teamwork and commitment, and their actions undoubtedly gave this man a fighting chance.

“Special Constables bring a huge amount to policing, often alongside their day jobs and personal commitments, and incidents like this show just how valuable their contribution is. 

“I’d like to congratulate all three officers for the way they worked together, supported each other and remained focused in an extremely challenging situation. They should be incredibly proud of what they achieved.”

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