What a great final story to finish my blog on, as two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) from Solihull have been praised for their bravery after rescuing a pensioner from his blazing Solihull home.
PCSOs Jayne Turner and Emma O’Meara were attending an appointment in Melton Avenue when they saw flames rising from a property’s roof and smoke pouring from a first floor window.
The June 27th fire, believed to have started accidentally, spread through the upstairs rooms and cornered Joseph Carter in his bedroom.
Both PCSOs ran inside and pulled the 75-year-old to safety. He was later treated in hospital for facial burns and severe smoke inhalation.
Jayne, who’s been a PCSO for five years, said: “We shouted upstairs and just heard a man’s voice asking ‘what’s going on?’ It was totally black, we couldn’t see a thing, and although we couldn’t see the fire we knew it had really taken hold. It was extremely hot.
“We found Mr Carter near his bedroom door, his hair was on fire and he was clearly suffering badly from smoke inhalation. Between us we carried him down the stairs and out to the front of the house where paramedics helped him.
“I’m delighted he’s on the way to recovery. We were just in the right place at the right time – I certainly don’t feel like a hero!”
Mr Carter was initially in a critical condition in hospital but he’s since improved and is expected to be discharged within a few days.
Solihull Police Superintendent David Walker, said: “It was a very serious fire…without hesitation both Jayne and Emma entered the building and carried the occupant to safety despite significant risk to themselves.
“Paramedics said the officers had saved the man’s life…if he’d remained inside for another minute he would have died at the scene. The actions of both officers can’t be praised highly enough.”
(In the photo: Diane Carter says thank-you to Solihull Police PCSOs Emma O’Meara (front) and Jayne Turner for rescuing her father from the house fire.)
Daughter Diane Carter, who was in the living room at the time and initially unaware of the blaze, thanked both PCSOs for their bravery in rescuing her father.
She added: “It was all very frantic. I heard some cracking coming from upstairs so walked from the lounge and saw smoke wafting down. Then the police officers ran in and seconds later emerged carrying my dad.
“They were very brave going in like they did…the smoke was thick black, choking. They may well have saved his life and I’m eternally grateful.”
My last two blogs have highlighted some extremely brave actions from members of Solihull Police who take a pride in the service they deliver to the Borough and the West Midlands as a whole.
This is a fitting end to my series of blogs; I hope the last ninety-two weeks have provided you with an insight as to what goes on at your local police station, over 15,000 people have read my weekly entries including people logging in from abroad!
For me I am now moving on with the Continuous Improvement Programme and start at another police station in the West Midlands very shortly.
That’s it for this week! And that’s it now for my blog; I will be keeping it live on the internet though for reference purposes but please don’t report anything to the police using this site, use the numbers shown below.
Many thanks
Phil
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PHIL RADBOURNE 