River rescue officers to be commended after saving drowning woman
A POLICE community support officer, who risked his life by diving into the River Derwent to save a drowning woman, is to be commended for his bravery.
Ex-serviceman Matthew Clark, who served in Afghanistan with the 2 Mercian battalion, braved freezing waters to drag the unconscious woman from the swollen river in Derby.
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Police community support officer Matthew Clark, right, and Pc Dennis Bateman are to be commended by the Royal Humane Society for their bravery in rescuing a drowning woman from a freezing cold River Derwent.
At one point, the strong current caused by last winter's heavy rains nearly pulled him under but he was helped to safety by two police colleagues.
Now his efforts, along with those of his two fellow officers, are to be recognised by the Royal Humane Society.
Sergeant Nick Allgood, who was also at the rescue, said: "There was a real risk that Matt could have lost his life. When I saw him go in I really thought 'we could have two people dead here'.
"The cold took his breath out of his lungs and, at one point, he was struggling to stay above the water.
"But Matt did a great job. I have no doubt that the woman would have died if it wasn't for him."
PCSO Clark was one of a team of officers who responded on November 23 after reports of a woman's body in the Derwent, near Cathedral Green.
The 40-year-old woman had waded into the water after an argument with her boyfriend but did not realise how deep it was and got swept off her feet by the current.
PCSO Clark, who served in Afghanistan in 2007 before joining Derbyshire police in February last year, was one of the first at the scene.
The 27-year-old said: "We assessed the area and, after a short while, Sgt Allgood agreed I could try to rescue her.
"I was up for it. It was fine at first, then I went down a bit of a ledge and the water came up to my chest. It made it quite difficult to breathe.
"I made my way to the woman and got hold of her and started to swim back but the current was fighting against me."
It was at this point that Pc Dennis Bateman and Pc Emerson Buckingham also got into the water and helped pull the unconscious woman to the bank. She was given first aid before being taken to hospital where she made a full recovery.
All three men will receive an award from the Royal Humane Society at police headquarters in Ripley in October.
Sgt Allgood said he was proud of the rescue. He said: "I think it shows that PCSOs will get stuck in – they often get a lot of stick from people.
"When Matt went into the water, the woman was just about conscious due to the cold.
"She had probably already been in there for about 15 minutes, from what I could tell. She was going round in circles with the current, so I told Matt to get in.
"The river was really swollen. We'd had a lot of heavy rain and it was only about two or three days after a police officer in Cumbria had died trying to help people in the floods, so that was at the back of all our minds."
In Cumbria, Pc Bill Barker was swept away and killed on November 20 while directing drivers off a bridge across a swollen river.
Sgt Allgood said he also wanted to praise a 13-year-old girl who spotted the woman and told her dad, who alerted police.
5 Comments
by Matt's No'1 Fan, Derby
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 4:29PM
“It is so encouraging to know that if i was in a sticky situation to know that at least one person would help!! So much for faith in the human race to help a person in need, the comments of the above people (except for Peter) are ridiculous. As for saying it was a temper tantrum, you apprently have no sympathy for mental health issues and no respect for her family. All I can say is, think if it was your mum, your sister, your brother or any other close family member in a dangerous situation, should someone leave them then?? As far as im concerned, this gentleman did a fine job and has done his service proud. Congratulations on your award Matt, you deserve it!!”
by Dawn, Derby
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 3:49PM
“Just stop a minute !! If it was your wife , sister or family member would you still call him foolhardy !!
I'm sure his family are very grateful. It was a brave act and he deserves his award . well done, you are an inspiration”
by David, derby
Monday, August 09 2010, 4:00PM
“Peter i think your comments sm up the state of this country perfectly to come out and say anyone who hadnt acted the same is a coward is totally out of order, the story reflects a sucesful outcome, however without help of his colleagues we would more thsn likely have had a dead PCSO, while i support the commendations on his actions what good would he have been to family and firends if he also died, member sof our emergency services put there lives on the line on a regular basis, but htere has to be a judgement call in some situations, i doubt very much you have received the awrad to say you have otherwise you ouldnt come out with such a crass comment”
by dave, Derby
Monday, August 09 2010, 1:43PM
“Peter it is all very well for you to say that, award or no award, oh and thanks for sharing that with us, you are a very humble man arent you.....
but to get to the point, i wouldnt say it is a matter of cowardice at all, and its very stupid and uneducated to say it is, the article clearly states that at one point the lad himself was in danger as the cold water took his breath away, infact he had to be pulled out by the other two officers, otherwise as the Sgt said it would have ended up being two dead instead of one, and more peoples lives put in danger to save them both, which was what happened as two other officers had to enter the water to get him out as he was struggling therefore putitng thier lives in danger
not saying what he did wasnt brave as yes it was in a way but it was also an act that could be described as foolhardy and stupid as it put others in danger too
and all for what to save the life of someone who was simply being an idiot, i hope she got charged for the time spent as she wasnt a victim of crime so took up police resources to save her from her little temper tantrum”
by Peter Newton, Chellaston
Monday, August 09 2010, 10:57AM
“It is very encouraging to see that this member of our emergency services was prepared to put his own life at risk in order to save the life of another. Too many public servants use health and safety legislation as an excuse for inaction and, I have to say, cowardice. (And to anyone who feels that it is all very well for me to say that, I would point out that I have an award for saving human life).
Matthew Clark is a true hero!”