Woman Rescued From Brighton Rooftop In Stormy Conditions

Monday, 16 November 2020 15:25

By Charlotte Baker @Ch4rtweets

Officers rescued a woman on the roof of a building in Brighton on Saturday (14) during stormy weather.

Police said they were called to reports of concern for the welfare of a woman on the roof of a four-storey building in Victoria Road, at around 11am.

Ambulance and fire crews were on route to the scene when it was feared the woman may slip due to the bad weather.

A spokesperson from Sussex Police said:

"PC Brandon Willcox and PC Stuart Ellis, realising that they had little option but to act in order to ensure her safety, responded quickly with PC Willcox stepping out on to a high ledge supported by his colleague in order to be able to reach the woman.

"The officers worked quickly together to ensure their own safety and safety help the woman back into the property."

The pair of officers have been commended for their bravery, not only during this incident, but also during another on the same day involving a man in the water off Brighton Pier.

Superintendent Rachel Swinney said:

"I absolutely commend the actions of our officers in bravely stepping in to ensure the safety of these individuals in such critical situations.

"These are examples of the kinds of challenges and difficult fast-time decisions our teams make on a daily basis and I am extremely proud of my colleagues.

"We don't know for certain what would have happened if these officers hadn't have made the choices they did, but to my mind two lives were saved.

"Policing is not just about arresting offenders and preventing crime from happening. It's also about being there for the people who need us most and making sure they are safe.

"I hope this provides the public with some insight into the kind of work we carry out on a daily basis to look after our local communities."