Dramatic suicide rescue at Hatfield Galleria earns inspector bravery award (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Dramatic suicide rescue at Hatfield Galleria earns inspector bravery award

12:38pm Monday 8th March 2010

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A Hertfordshire police inspector who put his life on the line to rescue a suicidal man hanging by his fingertips from the top of a multi-storey car park in Hatfield has been recognised for his bravery.

Inspector Roy Stammers prevented the suicidal man from plummeting 100 feet to his death by straddling the barriers over the drop and hauling him to safety.

The dramatic rescue on August 16 last year has earned the Borehamwood-based inspector a testimonial on parchment by the Royal Humane Society.

Five other officers who grabbed hold of the man over or through the barriers and clung on to stop him falling – PC David Burstow, SC Harwood, PC Gemma Kenealy, PS James Lant and PC Emily Martin – are to receive certificates of commendation.

Announcing the award at a ceremony in London last Friday, the society's secretary Dick Wilkinson said: “When this man let go of the ledge, these officers were all that prevented him plummeting 100 feet to his death.

“Inspector Stammers put himself at risk of plunging over the side by standing on a concrete wall, straddling the two-foot high metal barriers, and hauling the man back over them. This was a remarkable feat, for which he deserves the highest possible praise.

“All involved in saving this life richly deserve their awards.”

On the day of the incident a member of the public notified two on duty officers that a man, who was later identified as someone with a history of alcoholism and suicidal tendencies, was at the top of the Galleria multi-storey car park dangling his feet over a ledge on the wrong side of the barrier.

He continued: “Efforts to engage the man in conversation from the ground below were unsuccessful, so PC Burstow went to the seventh floor of the multi-storey car park and approached the man carefully to avoid panicking him.

“Initially the man sat down on the edge of the ledge with his legs overhanging the drop. However, a very short time later he got up and walked along the ledge before sitting down again. He then, suddenly without any warning, moved and was left hanging by his hands from the ledge with no other support.

“PC Burstow went to grab him and held his arms over the top of the ledge whilst remaining on the safe side of the barrier. PC Martin and PC Kenealy arrived shortly afterwards to help holding onto the man. PS Lant, SC Harwood and Inspector Stammers then arrived.

“PS Lant and SC Harwood both passed their hands through the metal barrier to provide extra support. By this stage the man had let go of the ledge and was being held by the officers only.

“Inspector Stammers stepped over the barrier with one leg on each side and, between them, they managed to pull the man back to safety.”

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the award, made on the recommendation of Hertfordshire Police, but it is likely to be in the near future.

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