Crawley police officers awarded top national honours in battle to save man’s life

The officers launched a search for the man after his family reported him missing - and then tried desperately to revive him after discovering his body on a rocky outcrop.

But despite their efforts the man - who was found hanged near his childhood school at West Hoathly - did not survive. The officers had fought for 50 minutes to restart his heart using cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The incident happened on the afternoon of 2 October 2 last year.

However, the officers involved in the search and administration of CPR – PCs Phoebe Apps, Andrew Bryant, Christina Stenner, Leanne Tighe and PS Kristopher Wales - are all to receive Royal Humane Society Certificates of Commendation for their fight to save the man.

“No-one could have done more than these officers,” said Andrew Chapman, secretary of the Royal Humane Society as he announced the awards.

Police were alerted by the man’s family who had received a note from him telling them what he intended to do and giving a vague indication of where he intended to do it.

After coping with treacherous muddy and slippery conditions they finally found the man on a rocky outcrop at the top of a cliff. The already exhausted officers managed to free him and began the gruelling process of administering CPR. But after 50 minutes he was declared dead.

Andrew Chapman said: “The conditions they had to contend with were treacherous because of heavy rain in previous days. And then, when they found him, they fought for an amazing length of time to try to resuscitate him. Sadly, despite their best efforts, they were unsuccessful but they did a wonderful job first in tracing him and then in their fight to save his life. If ever awards were merited these were.”

The roots of the Royal Humane Society stretch back more than two centuries. It was founded in 1774 and the Queen is its patron with Princess Alexandra as president. It is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.

Since it was set up the society has considered over 87,000 cases and made over 200,000 awards.