©Police Federation of England & Wales

Bravery Awards

FINE BLUES

A host of famous faces attended a star studded evening at the Savoy
Hotel where Home Secretary David Blunkett presented the prestigious
Police Bravery Awards to officers from across the country.

Sussex - Region 5 Pc's Five Rescue Attempts Save Tot Sussex constable Roger Greenall was voted the bravest officer in England and Wales at this year's Police Bravery Awards. Where others failed Constable Robert Greenall succeeded when he repeatedly risked his life to save a baby girl from a blazing house. The Eastbourne-based officer made five attempts to rescue the ten-month-old tot whose bedroom was on fire and filling the whole of the upstairs with chocking black smoke. The lunchtime fire began when the baby's mother was dozing in the lounge as her three year-old son set light to a pile of teddies in a bid to make a bonfire. It was the second blaze to rock the family after her eldest son set fire to another house four years previously, aged just four. Father-of-two Pc Greenall was the first member of the emergency services to respond to the 999 and reached the property at Langney, Eastbourne, as smoke billowed from the top of the two-storey house.
	He ran past people in the hall shouting that a baby was upstairs but as soon as he entered the bedroom he was immediately forced out by the acrid smoke and intense heat. "The cries were quite weak. I ran downstairs to the kitchen, got a wet cloth and returned to the room. It was at this point that flames suddenly shot across the room and lit up the child's cot in the far corner. I could see a pair of small legs sticking out of the railings of the cot. The flames were practically licking the baby's feet he explained. Constable Greenall attempted to rescue the baby again but was forced out of the room for a fourth time when the effects of the suffocating smoke made him lose his bearings. But he refused to give up when he realised the baby's cries had ceased. The officer dropped to the ground where a gap had emerged between the floor and smoke and crawled to the cot which was illuminated by the flames.	The determined officer made a further attempt to reach the baby but was unable to see due to the dense smoke. Fearing for the child's life, he ran to his patrol car to fetch a torch and made another attempt at rescue. The torch was useless. I could see nothing and could only hear the crackling of flames. As I fell out of the room, I heard the sound of a baby crying," said Pc Greenall. He stood up and lifted out the now limp and semi-conscious baby. As he ran downstairs, he smacked the baby on the back until she began to cough. Outside, the baby and Pc Greenall were treated by paramedics and taken to hospital suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. Both made a full recovery. Modestly Roger Greenhall said: "I know that any of my colleagues would have done exactly the same." Constable Greenall's actions earned him a force commendation and a Queen's Commendation for Bravery.