Officers bravely risked their own life forming a human chain while trying to save a woman from falling down a cliff. The four officers from South Wales Police have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2023 due to their efforts that night.
In the early hours of April 12, 2021, PC Owen Bedford, Inspector Paul Ramsay, Detective Inspector Paul Graham - who was a sergeant at the time - and a fourth – who wishes to remain anonymous, were deployed to the scene of a distressed woman on the edge of high, steep cliffs at Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan.
Inspector Ramsay was first at the scene and located the woman in "a highly precarious and vulnerable position". The officers recall that she was hanging on to crumbling rock, surrounded by wet grass, and was at immediate risk of falling.
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DI Graham said: “It was pitch black and the ground was soaking wet with dew. The woman was located at the bottom of a gradient into a sheer drop. The consistency of the rock at that location is not very firm and is crumbly, and there are regular collapses along the coast of the cliffs, so I was aware that what we were standing on was not very safe. I was fully aware that we were all in a life and death situation at this point.”
The four officers were unable to reach her until DI Graham organised a human chain, which he dangled from as he tried to save her from the cliff's edge. The force said that the officers demonstrated great bravery and had little regard for their own personal safety.
DI Graham reached out to the woman but was unable to get a firm grip of her hand. He said: “I thought 'I’m not going to be able to pull her back over the ledge of the cliff with one hand'. She didn’t have much upper body strength and was not able to assist much but was clearly trying her best to try and get back up the cliff.
“I let go of PC Bedford and put both hands out to try and pull her up and had hold of her hands with mine. PC Bedford was holding my weight. I had hold of her and then I didn’t. I was pulling her as hard as I possibly could and did the best that I could to try and save her life.”
DI Graham had the woman’s hands briefly in his own before she tragically fell over the cliff’s edge to the ground below. Officers rushed to locate her but she was unresponsive and unable to be resuscitated by CPR.
Jeremy Vaughan, Chief Constable of South Wales Police, said: “Police officers serve and protect the communities of South Wales Police with courage and pride on a daily basis, and I am immensely proud of the actions of Detective Inspector Paul Graham, Inspector Paul Ramsay, PC Owen Bedford and the other officer involved in this incident. On that cold, dark night their actions exemplified their professionalism and dedication in trying to save a life and in doing so putting their own lives at risk.
“They demonstrated sheer courage and determination, and their actions in really difficult and dangerous circumstances, prevented the tragedy that unfolded becoming even worse.
“While the events and heart-breaking outcome must have been truly awful to deal with, it is right to recognise the contribution they made throughout the incident and just how brave each officer was. They are all a credit to policing and should reflect on this terrible incident with pride.”
