PC set to attend Police Bravery Awards

7 December 2021

A West Mercia police officer who risked his own safety to rescue a man trapped in deep water at a disused pumping station is attending the 2021 Police Bravery Awards ceremony this week.

PC Craig Prewer will join fellow nominees from across England and Wales at the event in London on Thursday (9 December).

The officer pulled the man to safety after he had been in the water for up to four hours and was suffering from hypothermia.

The run-down building posed a series of hazards to PC Prewer’s own safety as he carried out the rescue.

He explained: “It was pitch black and I had to shuffle along a brick’s width around the edge of the building to get to the man and get him out and to the paramedics.”

After pulling the man to safety, PC Prewer, who has 23 years’ service with the Force, returned to ensure no one else was trapped in the building.

He was put forward for the national bravery awards by West Mercia Police Federation.

Chair Sarah Cooper said: “This incident presented a unique and challenging set of circumstances which PC Prewer overcame in order to save the life of a member of the public. It makes me incredibly proud to work alongside colleagues who act in such a brave and selfless way to protect our communities,  despite the very real risk to their own safety.

“It is absolutely right that officers like PC Prewer are recognised in this way and this nomination is representative of many other colleagues who put the safety of others before their own on a daily basis.”