Two residents and a policeman from Watchfield, near Highbridge, have been presented with bravery awards this week after they saved a teenage girl trapped in a pond.
Martin Chandler, Kim Tripp and PC Alan Alsford were presented with the
Royal Humane Society Award during the annual police awards in Taunton on Wednesday (October 21st).
It comes after an accident last year when, on the evening of April 10th, Kim and Martin heard cries coming from a farm in Watchfield.
They discovered a 13 year-old-girl trapped in the cab of a tractor which was submerged in a deep pond.
“Martin jumped straight into the water, which was out of his depth, and tried to open the cab door whilst Kim dialled 999,” said Somerset’s deputy chief constable Rob Beckley.
“After numerous attempts, Martin finally managed to smash the window using a piece of a metal gate. He was then assisted in pulling the girl out of the cab under the water. Kim then commenced CPR until she was joined by PC Alan Alsford who took over.”
Thanks to their brave actions, the young girl recovered after a spell in hospital.
The awards were presented by the High Sheriff of Somerset, John Alvis MBE, and the deputy chief constable at the Municipal Hall in Taunton.
