A police officer who single-handedly rescued three people from a blazing house has won national recognition for his bravery.
PC Aaron Horsfall, from West Yorkshire, was among officers from eight police forces to be honoured.
The regional winners were chosen from among 53 officers nominated for the annual Police Bravery Awards, held last night in the City of London.
PC Horsfall was on patrol when he saw a car and house on fire. As he made a radio call for assistance, the car exploded and a man staggered out and fled.
The officer broke down the back door of the house and went upstairs where he found two drunk men asleep. He managed to get them outside safely, where the men told him in broken English that a third person was in an attic bedroom in the house.
PC Horsfall, who was later treated for carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation, rushed back inside only for the third man to begin attacking him. The officer managed to restrain him and drag him out of the house to safety.
Other winners include PC David Williams and Sergeants Stuart Wells, Andrew Jackson and Darren Heyes from West Mercia who risked their lives to free a couple from a burning car. They braved flames and smoke as they battled to rescue the pair from the wreckage of a crash that left two other people dead.
Chairman of the Police Federation Paul McKeever said: “The sheer persistence of these officers in such deadly conditions is testimony to their professionalism and dedication to duty. Without their intervention, more lives would undoubtedly have been lost.
“They all put the safety of others before that of their own. Their actions were truly astounding.”
The awards have a particular resonance this year following the deaths of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes who were shot after attending what appeared to be a routine burglary call in Greater Manchester.
Off-duty PC Ian Dibell from Essex Police also lost his life when he was gunned down as he went to help a neighbour.
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