Police recognise local heroes with bravery awards
Ally McGilvray • Published 15 Nov 2011 09:15
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A MOTHER and daughter from Melrose who helped stop a man jumping off a bridge at a known suicide spot in the Borders were told their actions undoubtedly saved his life.
Catriona Thomson and her daughter Lucy were presented with a Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Award in recognition of their actions at a ceremony in police headquarters in Edinburgh on Thursday.
They were part of a line-up of brave, selfless and quick-thinking people all of whom, the ceremony heard, went beyond the call of duty in often terrifying situations.
Catriona was driving towards the Galafoot Bridge in Galashiels with Lucy when they noticed a man had climbed over the railings. She immediately stopped and told her daughter to call the emergency services.
The river was flowing fast when the drama unfolded in May this year. Lucy calmly explained what was happening, making the call-taker fully aware of what kind of incident they were dealing with. While this was happening, Catriona approached the man and chatted to him, reassuring him and managing to persuade him to climb back to the right side of the bridge.
By this time she had been joined by an off-duty Sergeant who helped the man back over the railings, but Catriona stayed with the man until police arrived.
The narrative which accompanied their citation said: "Catriona and Lucy's calm approach to a situation charged with emotion saved this man's life, and we are pleased to recognise this today."
Meanwhile, another Melrose resident was praised for his involvement from saving a man attempting to jump from a bridge in the town in May 2009. Bruce Dodds was out walking near Melrose bypass when he saw a man standing on the other side of the bridge railings. He began chatting to the man, to try and talk him to safety while he was waiting for police to arrive.
When Acting Sergeant Terrie Rae, as was her rank at the time, from Jedburgh Police Station, arrived she took over, and quickly established a rapport with the man, trying to keep him talking. Meanwhile, Constable Barry Taylor, from Galashiels Police Station, kept his distance from the man as he had said he didn't want anyone in uniform to approach him, instead biding his time until there was an opportunity to intervene.
After around 30 minutes of talking the man lost his grip of the railing and all three of them had to react quickly to take hold of him and drag him to the safe side of the barrier.
Last week, Bruce Dodds was presented with a Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Award and Constables Terrie Ray and Barry Taylor were awarded the Chief Constable's Commendations.
The narrative which accompanied their citation said: "Without Bruce's initial intervention and the effective actions of Acting Sergeant Rae and Constable Taylor this incident may well have had a more tragic outcome."
Elsewhere in the Borders, four police officers who successfully restrained and detained an extremely violent man who was brandishing a hammer were presented with Chief Constable's Commendations.
Constables Michael Burghe, Conal McEwan, and Stuart Little, along with Special Constable Graham Wilson, all of Hawick Police Station were praised for their "professionalism and bravery" shown during the drama one night in June last year.
They were called out after a vandal smashed the window of a property in the town's Laing Terrace.
Police went to the door of the suspect, and were confronted with a man lashing out with a hammer. Constables McEwan and Little used their CS spray but the man continued to lash out. Constable Burgher and Special Constable Wilson then grabbed the man, got him to successfully release the hammer before pulling him to be ground.
The man was then detained, but during the course of the incident Constable Burgher had been struck on the head with the hammer, and Constable McEwan had been struck on the hand. Constable Little and Special Constable Wilson also sustained minor injuries.
The narrative which accompanied their citation said: "There is no doubt, however, that their quick reactions saved them from more serious injuries, and the man did not attack anyone else that night."
A bus driver from Lauder was also recognised for the part he played following a serious road accident in Edinburgh in July last year. Glen Allan was driving along Frogston Road West when he came across a crash scene involving two cars - one of which had hit a tree.
Glen was vital in arranging for the emergency services to arrive after quickly contacting his control centre, and asked all the passengers on his bus whether they were medically trained. He also saw a man who was unsure what to do and instructed him to stop all traffic as it was now starting to manoeuvre through the scene.
As well as supporting the driver's neck, Glen also held the hands of the casualties who later died. He was supported by two other motorists and a passer-by. They were all presented with Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Awards.
The narrative which accompanied their citation said: "The car the two injured parties were in was extensively damaged and the scene was a particularly difficult one, however this did not deter the four men who did not hesitate to help at the scene. Although ultimately these efforts were in vain, the actions of these four men are deserving of recognition."
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 15 Nov 11
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