A Dyfed Powys police officer has been praised for his bravery after he risked his own life and dived into a fast-flowing freezing cold swollen river in Pembrokeshire to save a drowning woman.
Police Sergeant (PS) Rhys Evans, based at Haverfordwest Police Station, along with colleagues responded to an emergency call at 01:55hrs on Sunday morning (Jan 16) when it was reported a woman had fallen into the River Cleddau near County Hall, in Haverfordwest.
When officers arrived at the scene they discovered the 19-year-old woman had fallen down a weir and had disappeared under the surface of the water.
She eventually resurfaced and was dragged by strong currents approximately 350 metres down river on her back, passing the Bristol Trader Public House and Quay Street. Officers ran along a footpath beside the river and threw lifelines to her but she was unable to take hold of these and continued to drift down river rapidly.
PS Evans said: “As the female approached the Freemans Way Bridge, I realised that if she continued to down the river it would become impossible to follow her from the river bank and she would most likely drown.
“So I entered the water and swam across the river about 30 feet to her. I managed to take hold of her and swim about 15 foot to the opposite bank, where, with the assistance of my colleagues PC Mark East, PC Steve Davies PC Amy Talboys, and Special Constables Chris Evans and Jamies Hughes, and a street pastor, we lifted her out of the water up a steep bank.
“My colleagues and the street pastor gave the woman first aid and kept the woman warm by covering her in their own coats, while I radioed for an ambulance. We were some distance from a road so it was vital we kept the casualty as warm as possible. ”
The woman, who was in the water for approximately ten minutes in total, was taken by ambulance to Withybush Hospital where she is reportedly in a stable condition.
PS Evans, said: ”The strong under currents in the river and the climb up the steep bank with the casualty left me absolutely exhausted, cold and wet. After the rescue when the adrenaline began to wear off I was unable to speak or think clearly and could hardly walk.
“My colleagues got me back to the police station, where I got out of my wet clothes and had a warm shower to bring me around, which seemed to do the trick. I put on a clean uniform had a cup of tea and completed the rest of my shift.”
Chief Superintendant Dean Richards, said: “I’m extremely proud of the way all our officers responded to this difficult and fast changing incident, in particular the courage and determination demonstrated by PS Evans who risked his own life to save a vulnerable woman.
“The water was deep with an extremely strong current it was very cold and dark. It was a swift and professional response from all the officers involved but there is no escaping the fact that if PS Evans had not gone into the river and rescued the female she would have continued to drift down river and would most likely not have survived.
“This incident highlights the dangers that officers face in the course of carrying out their duty and the selfless and brave actions they take to protect the public and save life.”
