West Midlands team named overall winner at Police Bravery Awards for lake rescue bid

14 July 2023

A team of West Midlands Police officers who put their own lives on the line as they formed a human chain to try to save four young boys who had fallen into a frozen lake has been named this year’s overall national Police Bravery Award winner.

PS Paula McDowell, PS Fergal Sharkey, PC Harriet Batchelor, PC Alana Grigg, PC Stewart Powers, PC Joshua Adams, PC Anthony Maginnis, PC William Finnegan, PC Fidha Akhtar, PC Olivia Studholme, PC Charanjit Chana, PC Jordon Finn, PCSO Chloe Westlake and PC Jason Gilbert were honoured for the tremendous courage they showed throughout the tragic incident at Babbs Mill near Solihull on 11 December last year.

The policing minister Chris Philp presented the team with the overall award, shortly after the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper announced them as Region 3 winners at a ceremony in London last night (13 July).

The West Midlands Police team with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, Chief Constable Craig Guildford and Police Federation national chair Steve Hartshorn

Speaking about the award Paula said: “These officers are the epitome of British policing and I am immensely proud of every single one of them. In my eyes, they are all heroes.”

As part of the annual bravery awards event the West Midlands officers also joined fellow nominees from forces across England and Wales at a Downing Street reception hosted by Home Secretary Suella Braverman ahead of the awards ceremony.

The officers were nominated for the incredible bravery they showed when they attended an incident involving four children, who had been playing on a frozen lake and had fallen through the ice into the freezing waters. 

“It was me and two PCSOs who were first on the scene. Without hesitation, they headed into the water and put their lives at risk. Rank didn’t matter and everyone was there on the same mission - and that was to save those children. The entire team showed bravery, courage and determination,” continued Paula.

Using their initiative, the officers fearlessly created a human chain so they could reach further into the lake, wading through freezing waters and smashing through thick ice with their hands and batons.

The lake was so cold, the team were forced to make the difficult decision to leave the water. Shortly after, the Fire and Rescue Service arrived, entering the lake and bringing the first child to the shore, with a further three boys located within minutes.

The team of West Midlands officers, along with emergency service colleagues from the Air Ambulance and Fire and Rescue Service, began first aid and CPR on the four children, who were all in cardiac arrest when rescued. 

The Police Bravery Award winners attended a reception at 10 Downing Street ahead of the presentation ceremony

Despite the children being blue-lighted to hospital where CPR continued, all four children tragically died as a result of the incident. 

Paula added: “We couldn’t have done anymore that day. The team did all they could, and I hope, in some way, this award acknowledges that.”

Chair of West Midlands Police Federation Rich Cooke said: “The Police Bravery Awards are the highlight of the policing year and I never fail to be amazed by the incredible acts of bravery that we gather to honour.

“I am beyond proud of our team. Hearing once again about the incident and what they went through that day made me quite emotional.

“I know they didn’t get the outcome they wanted that day but they all did their very best. The bravery awards showcases all that is good about policing, giving us an opportunity to appreciate the work of our officers who put their lives on the line as they serve the public.”