A hero Wiltshire police officer has been nominated for a national bravery award after risking her life to save others in two separate incidents last summer.
PC Nicola Crabbe, of Devizes Neighbourhood Policing Team, has been recognised in the National Bravery Awards 2025 for jumping into a canal to try to save a woman and for tackling a knife-wielding suspect in Devizes town centre.
On the morning of 21 May, PC Crabbe responded to reports of a person floating face down near a bridge along the Kennet and Avon Canal. She and a PCSO colleague arrived to find the woman about 15 feet from the bank.
Without hesitation, PC Crabbe removed her kit and entered the water. Though the woman later died in hospital, officers managed to revive her long enough for her family to say goodbye.
PC Crabbe said: “With the help of my PCSO colleague we pulled her out of the canal, performed CPR, and managed to get her back for a short time.
“It was just long enough for her family to get to the hospital where she was taken, and to sadly say their goodbyes.”
Just over a month later, on 29 June, PC Crabbe responded to multiple 999 calls about a violent incident on a main road into Devizes. A man was seen chasing another male – who was bleeding from his head and back – towards the town centre.
Arriving first at the scene with her colleague, PC Crabbe found the men fighting. She intervened and detained the suspect, who was armed with a knife. He was later convicted of attempted murder and detained in a psychiatric unit.
The victim was airlifted to hospital and later made a full recovery.
PC Crabbe said: “We received a call saying there were two men fighting, covered in blood outside the butchers on Sidmouth Street.
“When we arrived a member of the public pointed out the man with a knife. I am not taser trained so was technically unarmed but it was a hot day, it was midday, it was a Saturday, the area was busy, so there was no thought to it really.
“I think highlighting the good work officers do is really important because we get a lot of negative attention. I’m incredibly honoured to have been nominated for this award but it will always be tainted because someone else had to suffer.”
Chief Constable Catherine Roper said: “I am incredibly proud to endorse PC Nicola Crabbe, who has been nominated at the national level for her exceptional bravery and dedication to public service.
“In two distinct and life-threatening incidents, PC Crabbe’s actions exemplified the true spirit of policing. Whether diving into a deep canal to rescue a person in distress or intervening in a dangerous knife attack to protect the public, she acted with remarkable courage and professionalism.
“These incidents reflect not only her personal bravery but also her unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of others.
“PC Crabbe’s quick thinking, combined with the support of her colleagues and members of the public, undoubtedly saved lives. Her courage is a true reflection of the highest standards we aspire to in Wiltshire Police.
“I wholeheartedly commend PC Crabbe for her bravery, I thank her for her passionate commitment to the communities of Wiltshire.”
PC Crabbe also recently won the Most Outstanding Police/Law Enforcement title at the 2025 Covenant and Services Awards. The event celebrates service personnel across the armed forces, emergency services, and volunteer sectors.
The winners of the National Bravery Awards 2025 will be announced on Thursday night (10 July) at a ceremony in west London.
