Three police constables have been praised for their extraordinary bravery after saving the life of a woman who set herself on fire in Swindon.
PCs Leonardo Koca, Elliot Alvis and Julia Hassall responded to reports of a person on the roof of ASDA at Orbital Shopping Park on 9 January.
On arrival, they immediately recognised the woman as a high risk missing person aged 22 – who had been the subject of an urgent search.
She attempted to run from officers, and as PC Koca caught up with her she poured nail polish remover over herself and ignited it with a lighter.
Within seconds the woman was engulfed in flames – as shoppers watched in horror. PC Koca tackled her to the ground and, using his bare hands, began smothering the flames.
PC Alvis joined him, helping to extinguish the fire as it spread across her clothing. PC Hassall sprinted to the police vehicle, grabbed a fire extinguisher and used it to put out the remaining flames.
Once the fire was out, the officers immediately began treating the woman’s severe burns, focusing on her legs, which had sustained the worst injuries.
Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance attended alongside ambulance crews and the fire service, and the casualty was rushed to hospital – where she required skin grafts.
PC Koca suffered blistering burns to his hands as a result of his actions.
Wiltshire Police say that without the officers’ “rapid and selfless intervention”, the woman’s injuries would have been significantly worse and potentially fatal.
Their actions also prevented the fire from spreading further and posing a danger to the public.
The Wiltshire Police Federation say all three officers knowingly placed themselves at risk to save a woman experiencing an acute mental health crisis.
They say that their courage, quick thinking and determination to protect life exemplify the highest standards of policing.
Chief Constable Catherine Roper said: “I am incredibly proud of the professionalism and courage shown by these officers. In the face of immediate danger, they acted without hesitation to protect life and to keep a member of the public safe.
“Their commitment to serving our communities is exactly what policing is about.
“Every day, our officers put themselves in harm’s way to look after others, and this incident is a powerful reminder of the dedication and compassion they bring to their role.”
Wiltshire Police Federation Chair Jackie Allen said: “There is no doubt that if it were not for the quick-thinking actions of PCs Koca, Alvis and Hassall, who all put themselves at risk to help save a female who was having a severe mental health crisis, the injuries the female sustained would have been far worse or even fatal.
“All three risked personal injury to not only help the female involved but also to protect the public from any further dangers posed by the fire.”
