‘We think of Sam every day’, says mum of teenager saved by police officer

An Essex Police officer who risked his life to save a teenager has been presented with the force’s top honour by the Chief Constable.

PC Sam Owen was one of several officers responding to reports of a teenager standing on the edge of a bridge above the A12 last October.

Although colleagues were trying to engage with her, while others were putting roadblocks in place, Sam sensed that she was about to fall and positioned himself on the road beneath so he could break it.

Presenting Sam with the Merit Star in front of the teenager and her family, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington told him:

“Every day in this great force, exceptional things are done and achieved.
“But every now and then there is an act, carried out in the line of duty, that is beyond exceptional.
“In those circumstances it is my great privilege and honour to bestow the Merit Star to PC Owen as Essex Police’s highest honour of commendation and recognition.
“Yours was an act of bravery, courage and compassion that saved the life of a teenager in distress, without any thought for your own safety.
“It was a truly remarkable and selfless act, Sam. Thank you.”

In October 2023, Essex Police received numerous calls from motorists and off-duty police officers about a teenager standing on the edge of a bridge.

On-duty colleagues worked quickly to put in roadblocks to stop oncoming traffic while Sam stood below the teenager to reassure her.

Despite the best efforts of police officers on the bridge itself to engage with her, the teenager suddenly fell.

Sam, of Colchester Community Policing Team, positioned himself directly beneath her to try and catch her, to soften her landing and ensure her head and upper body did not hit the road. He and fellow officers then administered emergency first aid until the Herts and Essex Air Ambulance arrived.

Mr Harrington says:

“Due to Sam’s courageous and quick-thinking actions, the teenager suffered no life-changing injuries. Doctors were in no doubt that he saved her life.”

The teenager’s mother said after the ceremony at Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford:

“We were told by the air ambulance crew that if it hadn’t been for Sam, our daughter wouldn’t be here today.
“We think of him every day. Sam never goes far from our minds at all. We look at her and think ‘you’ve come so far’ and think of Sam.”

Sam recalls:

“It happened so quickly – it was instinct. I remember driving up to the bridge with a colleague and saw the teenager standing in a precarious position.
“My colleague went to help stop traffic and I went straight beneath the bridge because it felt to me as though it would be a matter of moments before she fell.
“I was desperate to help and to try to save her. I had to take a few steps forward and lunge to get underneath her and try to catch her. My sole aim was to try to stop her head and the top half of her body from hitting the ground, to protect her vital organs.
“We both fell to the ground, me with my arms underneath her, and stayed there until an ambulance, a fire crew and the air ambulance arrived. They were all great.”

Sam was presented with his Merit Star after receiving a Chief Constable’s Commendation, alongside other colleagues who have gone above and beyond in their work to help people, keep them safe and catch criminals. He has also been presented with an Essex Police Federation Bravery Award for his brave actions.

Of his awards, Sam says:

“It’s incredible. It’s such an honour. To receive a Chief Constable’s Commendation alone is a massive honour and to receive the Merit Star is a very proud moment for me and my family.”

If you need someone to talk to

If you need someone to talk to, you can ring the Samaritans free from any phone and confidentially on 116 123, email [email protected] or visit the charity’s website at www.samaritans.org

Suicide awareness training

Mid and South Essex NHS Integrated Care Board also provides online suicide awareness training which will help you to identify the signs of when someone might be having suicidal thoughts and to feel comfortable speaking about suicide in a supportive manner:

• https://letstalkaboutsuicideessex.co.uk

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