PC Thomas Scourfield and Sergeant Geraint Jenkins

PC Thomas Scourfield and Sergeant Geraint Jenkins are officers with South Wales Police. They risked their lives in attempting to save the life of a 92-year-old man who was trapped in a burning building in Port Talbot.

PC Thomas Scourfield was off duty and driving home when he spotted a blaze in Talbot Road, Port Talbot. He could hear screaming from inside the property and forced his way in to find a woman throwing water on an elderly man who was on fire in the yard near a burning shed. Believing the windows would shatter at any moment due to intense heat, PC Scourfield guided the woman who had burns to her hands and forehead, out of the property. He then returned to try and rescue the man.

Sergeant Geraint Jenkins, who was on the last day of his secondment to the arson reduction unit, was driving a fire service vehicle when he noticed thick black smoke billowing from the rear of the property. He climbed over neighbouring garden walls to find the shed on fire and the motionless body of the elderly man on the ground surrounded by flames. Due to the intensity of the fire he covered himself with soaked towels for protection while he tried to pull the man from the fire. The man had severe burns to his head, face and body and was not breathing. Sgt Jenkins attempted CPR until paramedics and air ambulance doctors arrived. Sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Both officers have been nominated for the national Police Bravery Awards.

Branch chair Steve Treharne said:

"These 2 officers did everything they could to save this gentleman. They were incredibly brave and selfless, and displayed a real commitment to serving the public and protecting the people in their communities.”