A Wiltshire police officer was nominated in the recently held Police Bravery Awards for jumping into a canal to save a woman’s life. 

The 2020 Police Bravery Awards were postponed to 12 October this year due to the pandemic, and Wiltshire’s PC Chris Miller was nominated for going above and beyond.

In January 2020 PC Miller responded to an emergency call with reports of a woman floating face down in the Kennet & Avon canal running through Devizes near London Road. 

Taking immediate action, he half waded, half swam out to the woman and managed to drag her to the bank.

She was still conscious but freezing cold and PC Miller stayed until ambulance teams arrived.

This is the second time PC Miller has been nominated for the award, risking his life in 2016 to save a drowning man wearing a weighted rucksack in Coate Water lake, Swindon.

Wiltshire Police Federation Chair Mark Andrews said: “PC Miller undoubtedly saved this woman’s life and risked his own safety in doing so.”

“It was a bitter night, and she must have been close to drowning when PC Miller decided to enter the water.

"It was an action which typifies the professionalism and dedication of the best Wiltshire Police officers; he had no time to assess the situation; he just took control to save a life.

“We are extremely proud of PC Miller. To be nominated once for The National Police Bravery Awards is an incredible achievement in a police officer’s career.

"To be nominated twice is simply outstanding.”

Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard, who attended the awards ceremony which was held in London, said: “I am hugely proud of PC Chris Miller, who embodies the true spirit of policing – acting selflessly to help others.

“PC Miller has received numerous recognitions for his bravery, including receiving awards at our own Force Ceremonies and twice being nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards.

“Attending these awards allowed me to hear some truly inspirational stories, and it made me feel hugely proud of all our police officers and staff here in Wiltshire and our colleagues across the country.”

The ceremony that celebrates “the bravest of the brave” was won overall by Metropolitan Police officer PC Stuart Outten who used his Taser to disable an attacker who was armed with a machete.

In the horrific attack, PC Outten suffered six deep wounds to his head, skull fractures, and two wounds to his arm and multiple finger fractures.

In addition to the main bravery award, 11 officers from 6 regions were recognised for going above and beyond the line of duty:

  • PS Simon Hogg, PC Paul Jackson and Retired PC Paul Cowling, Durham
  • PS Amos Durose and PC Kristian Avons, Staffordshire
  • PC Geoff Marshall, Derbyshire
  • PC Roz Fricker, Dorset
  • PC Richard Shea, PC Matthew Reynolds, North Wales
  • PC Joanna Wilber and PC Jack Wilber, Greater Manchester

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.