Honours for Black Country cops who saved drowning woman

Pc Adam Beckett, from Sandwell, his family and his friend, Liam Dawes, 32, from the Yew Tree estate in Walsall, had spent the day on Barmouth Beach when Pc Beckett saw a dinghy which was drifting away from the beach capsize and throw the occupants – a woman and 11-year-old girl – into the water.

Pc Beckett and Mr Dawes went to see what was happening and had started to wade out in the sea when they saw that the girl was panicking in her bid to stay afloat.

The two of them then swam out against the tide and were out of their depth when they reached the woman who was face down in the water and the girl who was shouting that the woman, who was in her 30s, could not swim.

Mr Dawes grabbed the girl and kept her afloat while Pc Beckett grabbed the woman, whose clothing was causing her to sink, and turned her over.

He then realised that she was unconscious and while treading water he began to give her the kiss-of-life.

Then between them they pulled the girl and the woman 150 yards back to the beach. By the time they got there, thanks to the swift action of Pc Beckett, the woman had started breathing again. She later went on to make a full recovery.

Now both men are to receive top national bravery and life-saving honours for the rescue.

They are to receive Royal Humane Society Testimonials on Parchment for risking their own lives to save the pair and, in addition, Pc Beckett is to receive one of the Society's Resuscitation Certificates.

They have also been praised by Royal Humane Society Secretary Dick Wilkinson.

He said: "I've often said it, but once again they were the right people in the right place at the right time.

"They saw what was happening, didn't hesitate and went straight into the water, even though they were soon out of their depth to save the woman and girl.

"And they did a wonderful job. They richly deserve the awards they are to receive.

"But for their efforts there could have been a very different and tragic ending to this incident."

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards, which follow a recommendation from West Midlands Police, but it is expected to take place in the near future.

The Queen is the society's patron and its president is Princess Alexandra. It is the top national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.

The society also awards non health care professionals who perform a successful resuscitation.

Since it was set up, the society has considered more than 87,000 cases and made over 200,000 awards.

The society is a registered charity which receives no public funding.