The exceptional courage of South Wales Police officers who rescued an unconscious woman trapped on rocks in treacherous conditions has been recognised.
Six Federation members – PC Molly Cana, Special PC Colin Davies, Special PC David Bird, PC Robert Morgan, PC Daniel Davies, and Sergeant Paul Bamsey – have been nominated for a bravery award for saving the life of a 66-year-old at Aberavon Beach.
The incident unfolded at around 9.40pm on Thursday 11 December after reports that a woman was in difficulty.
Molly, who was first on the scene with Robert, described the urgency of the situation.
<Picture – South Wales Police>
“She had fallen forwards, her ankle was caught in between the rocks, and her head was fully submerged, so she was essentially drowning,” she said.
In order to stage a rescue, the officers had no specialist equipment and had to contend with dangerous sea conditions and poor weather and visibility to ensure they were not swept out to sea.
Molly said: “We didn’t really know what to do in that moment. We knew we had to make a decision, and we had to make it quickly.”
As luck would have it, David had undergone officer safety training two days before in which he was trained to throw ropes into bodies of water to rescue people.
Slipping
David, a Special who works full-time in the Force Control Room, was nearby and went to assist, taking with him the rope he had in his police car.
“The pier was wet and smooth,” he said. “I was like Bambi on ice and slipping everywhere.
“You could see a leg sticking out of the rocks. She’d had a fall, head first, and was trapped in the rocks in the sea.”
Now joined by the other officers and the woman’s son-in-law, they were instructed over the radio not to go into the sea.
Molly said: “But at the same time, we needed to get as close as possible.
“We didn’t really know what to do in that moment.
“It was pure improvisation. We knew we had to make a decision, and we had to make it quickly.”
Serious injuries
They all formed a human chain to stabilise themselves and used the rope like a lasso and managed to throw it over the woman’s ankles.
David said: “Once it was around her ankle, it was tug of war. We pulled her out, over the rocks and up onto the pier.”
The woman had sustained serious injuries to her leg, face, arms and body and required treatment for a calf injury, ten fractured ribs and a punctured spleen, amongst other injuries.
The officers remained with the woman until the arrival of the coast guard.
Molly said: “It was pure relief that she was alive. She was unconscious, but she was breathing, and that was the main thing.
“It was also relief that no one else was injured.”
Bravery award
Now the six officers have been nominated for a South Wales Police bravery award.
Molly said: “It’s not often in this job you get praised, so I feel very privileged. I’m proud of all of the team.”
David added: “It’s absolutely fantastic. I like helping people, and for it to be recognised and acknowledged is really appreciated.”
Inspector Will John said: “This was a tremendous display of bravery from all of the officers involved, in what were dangerous and very difficult conditions.
“The officers placed the safety of the woman before their own and I have little doubt that this incident would have had far worse consequences for the woman had the officers not found her when they did.
“It is certain that the quick thinking of officers and the woman’s son-in-law Jamie has saved her life.”
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