Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD
PC Lisa Macpherson and PC David Fraser
Hero police officers who saved two lives after a car smashed into a rural cottage, setting the home on fire.
PCS Lisa Macpherson, 30, and David Fraser, 42, rescued a woman from her home after it was hit by a car which then caught fire.
The officers helped remove people from the vehicle to safety as the car was engulfed in flames. But by now, the cottage was also ablaze. PC Fraser forced open the locked door, and found 61-year-old Sylvia Walden in her bedroom, unaware of the fire, and led her to safety with her dog.
Ms Walden, who was not injured in the incident, recalls: “I was fast asleep and didn’t hear the car go into the house.
“I could hear shouting. I got up, opened the door and there was a police officer with a torch saying ‘hello, hello this is the police. You need to get out of the house’.”
It took three fire crews to extinguish the blaze. They left the scene at 3.18am.
A spokesman for HM Coastguard in the Western Isles, who were at the scene later, commended the two officer’s bravery during the November 2019 incident: “Huge congratulations on a well-deserved award for their bravery and quick thinking during this incident. Their actions saved two lives. Well done Dave and Lisa from all of us in this area.”
PCS Macpherson and Fraser said jointly: “We are very honoured ... . In these situations the most important concern is the preservation of life and that is why we acted in the way we did, as would any police officer.”
The heroes were honoured by racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart and Sanjeev Bhaskar, who plays DI Sunny Khan in ITV series Unforgotten.
Sir Jackie said: “Stornaway is very lucky to have you on patrol and keeping the community safe. You make me very happy, and very proud to be Scottish, so many congratulations.”
Sanjeev added: “Lisa and David, I’ve read about what you did that day and it was your quick response and incredible bravery that literally saved lives. You went beyond the call
of duty.”