999 heroes pull woman out of freezing canal
DUO PUT FORWARD FOR AWARD FOR THEIR BRAVERY
DRAMATIC body-worn video footage has revealed how emergency services dashed to save the life of a woman who had fallen in a Nottingham canal.
The video shows a heroic Nottinghamshire Police officer and East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic running towards the drowning woman and pulling her from the freezing water.
Police Constable Lee Lane was called to the canal near London Road in the city centre where he met a paramedic who had just been flagged down by a member of the public.
They both ran to the scene shortly after 8am on Saturday.
PC Lane said: “I could see the woman struggling to keep her head above the murky water. As we ran closer she then became unconscious and was drowning.
“As I was running towards her with the paramedic I took my Taser vest and stab vest off before we both jumped in the water. I was just thinking we had to get to her before she died. The water was freezing cold and I didn’t realise how deep it was, with the water coming up to my shoulder.
“The paramedic grabbed hold of her first but was struggling to pull her. I managed to put her on my shoulders and we were then able to drag her out of the water to safety.
“She was really cold and pale. My colleagues were able to provide first aid and clear the water from her lungs as she regained consciousness. We then covered her with a blanket to keep her warm until the ambulance arrived.”
The EMAS paramedic said: “When I arrived I could see that the woman was already in the water and I could see that she was starting to go under.
“Myself and the police officer realised that she would not resurface and both of us knew then that we had to jump in to rescue her. Despite how cold the water would have felt, I didn’t feel it at the time because my ultimate goal
was to save this woman, so the adrenaline had kicked in.”
The woman was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre for treatment and later discharged.
PC Lane has served with the force for just over three years and is a response officer based at Byron House. He and the EMAS paramedic have now been put forward for a future Nottinghamshire Police Award in recognition of their brave actions.
PC Lane’s colleagues who helped at the scene were PCS Cai Bawden, Matthew Bower, Lawrence Verney and Leah Madhani. Inspector John Lees, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an exemplary piece of work by all of the officers involved, working together to save this woman in very challenging circumstances. “PC Lane’s and his paramedic colleague’s quick-thinking actions undoubtedly saved her life. “They conducted themselves in a truly inspirational way, showing real courage and determination and working together to rescue her from the canal. They should all feel very proud and really deserve recognition for what they did.”
Dr Leon Roberts MBE, executive medical director at EMAS, said: “We are immensely proud of our staff and especially when they go above and beyond to ensure that the health and wellbeing of our patients is their top priority.”
PC Lane’s and his paramedic colleague’s quick-thinking actions undoubtedly saved her life.
John Lees