Brave officers up for Met award
Police constables charged into burning building to rescue two people
TWO lion-hearted Hillingdon police officers have been nominated for a prestigious Metropolitan Police award after they heroically rescued a woman from a burning house in South Ruislip.
PCs Shand Panesar and Craig Nicholson were praised for showing ‘immense bravery’ after they were called to the blaze, in Bridgewater Road, on September 20 last year.
The fire had broken out at 8.41pm and took 21 firefighters more than an hour to bring it under control.
Without safety equipment, the two officers charged into the flame-engulfed house without hesitation.
The officers were first forced out of the building by the blaze, but PC Nicholson took several deep breaths and reentered using only his police shirt to cover his mouth and nose.
Inside he was able to find a trapped man who he guided out of the building, before he located the unconscious woman and dragged her out of the house.
Once outside, PC Nicholson disregarded his own breathing difficulties and started CPR until the ambulance service arrived, while PC Panesar attended to the injured man.
The woman has since made a full recovery and paramedics said the woman would have died if PC Nicholson did not rescue her from the building and carry out CPR.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “We have some outstanding candidates for this year’s bravery award.
“All would make very worthy winners. Such remarkable acts of professionalism and selfless acts of bravery are often carried out in the Metropolitan Police Service, but rarely remarked upon.
“These awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the courage of some of our officers, in saving lives and tackling armed and dangerous criminals.
“Please take a small amount of time out of your day to read about what these officers did that resulted in them being nominated for this bravery award and then place your vote.
“It was a very difficult decision for us to select these cases from a huge number of nominations.
“This will be my last time as commissioner presenting these awards.
“My officers and staff joined the Met to serve and protect Londoners and make our city safer for everyone.
“I am proud to lead an organisation where amazing work happens every day.
“This is an opportunity for me to say thank you to all those men and women of the Met who give so much for London every day.”
The public vote opened on Monday January 16 and closes on Monday, February 6. A winner will be presented with their award at a ceremony on February 10.