A “possible tragedy” was averted thanks to the efforts of a police officer risking her own life in flood water at Porthleven.

This was the citation given when PC Helen Newton received a Chief Superintendent’s Commendation at a recent police award ceremony.

The ceremony heard how PC Newton and a colleague had been sent to Porthleven on the evening of February 4, following a report of a motorist and her children trapped in a vehicle in rising flood water.

They discovered the vehicle partly submerged and starting to lift in the fast running waters.

Fearing that the car was moments from being swept away, the officers made the brave decision to wade waist-deep through rising flood waters to rescue the young family.

The award citation read: “PC Helen Newton and her colleague effected the rescue despite the risk to their own safety, ensuring the mother and her four children were taken away from the extremely dangerous situation.

“There is no doubt, with the increasing current and many hidden hazards below the water’s surface, the officers’ lives were placed at real risk and a possible tragedy was narrowly averted.”

Also honoured, with a Superintendent’s Commendation, were PC David Tyler and PC Lesley Loring from Helston Police Station.

On Thursday, April 24 they stopped a vehicle carrying three men, which was travelling erratically on the A394 at Trewennack.

The driver had placed something into his mouth before running off into oncoming traffic on the unlit road.

PC Tyler chased on foot, recognising that the driver was “at serious risk of harm” as it was unclear as to what he had swallowed.

The driver then fell onto the carriageway and when getting to his feet he was issued with a Taser warning. The driver ignored the officer and was incapacitated as he got to his feet.

The ceremony heard that the driver was “very drunk” and as the officer began to administer aftercare he began to struggle violently.

As PC Tyler tried to restrain the man, PC Loring used the police car to shield them from other vehicles.

Both officers attempted to restrain the violently struggling man and move him to a place of safety off the carriageway.

Their citation added: “A violent struggle continued, with both officers eventually managing to move the |male to the safety of the verge.

“In the process both officers received injuries and ripped uniforms, but their actions prevented serious injury to the driver and other road users.”

The awards honoured the professionalism and commitment of police officers, staff and volunteers, |with 16 people from the West |Cornwall policing area recognised by Chief Superintendent Julie Fielding, Superintendent John Green, Superintendent Jim Pearce and |Detective Superintendent Jim Colwell.