Five Lancashire police officers have been nominated for an award, after their brave attempt to save a woman who jumped into a river.

Sam Stinchon, Taylor Gregson, Katherine Maxwell, Mike McMahon and Vanessa Fowler have been nominated for National Police Bravery Awards 2023.

On July 12, 2022 police received a call from a distressed man stating his mother had just ended her life.

Her body was in the river and upon arrival the officers were confronted with a difficult situation. They were met with a high wall with a 10 foot drop on the other side of it into the river once they made their way through the grassland.

PC Sam Stinchon and PC Taylor Gregson were the first officers there and they discovered a man in the river holding the woman above the water.

Without any thought for themselves, PCs Stinchon and Gregson climbed over the wall and dropped into the river, wading over immediately to the man and moved the woman across to the other side of the river where it was much shallower and she could be laid above the water for them to commence CPR as she was unresponsive and not breathing.

PCs Katherine Maxwell and Mike McMahon arrived on scene shortly after and both climbed over the wall into the river, bringing extensive first aid equipment carried by the armed response officers. Both PC Maxwell and PC McMahon assisted with providing first aid and CPR to the woman.

PC Vanessa Fowler then arrived on scene along with other emergency service workers to assist with the rescue efforts.

After performing CPR for 13 minutes, her pulse was obtained, but she was not breathing.

A multi-agency approach and plan was established on how she was going to be taken out of the river in the safest manner as it was inaccessible due to the 10-foot wall either side.

The fire and rescue service mobilised an aerial platform which was lowered into the river where she was transferred to a stretcher.

The platform was then raised back over the road where she was moved into the waiting ambulance and transported to hospital.

She was in a medically induced coma in Royal Blackburn Hospital for 10 days for assessments.

She died in hospital several days later but was given every chance to survive thanks to the phenomenal effort, courage, bravery and professionalism shown by all the officers.

Rachel Hanley, chair of Lancashire Police Federation, said: “These officers showed immense courage and bravery by entering the water. We all are rightly proud of them; they represent the very best of Lancashire Constabulary.”

Lancashire Constabulary Chief Constable Chris Rowley said: “These officers showed extreme bravery in very challenging circumstances.

“They put themselves at risk to try and save the life of another person and have shown the true spirit of public service and the utmost professionalism. They should be extremely proud of their actions.”