Brave Cops Battle Rave Mob to Save Teens in Daring Rescue
Three heroic officers faced a chaotic illegal rave in February 2020, risking their own safety to rescue two vulnerable teenagers. PC Ben Shaylor, PC Ali Khan, and PC James Whittaker were on night duty when they were called to a packed warehouse off the North Circular Road.
Rave Turns Into Nightmare: 1,500 Inside, More Outside
“We had a rough idea of numbers,” said PC Shaylor, “but when we showed up, it was a whole different ballgame.” Inside, between 1,000 to 1,500 partygoers packed the industrial unit, with another 1,000 desperate to get in through a single gate. The officers stood firm, trying to stop the crowd from surging in.
But things quickly exploded. “They charged us and we had to fight them off,” Shaylor revealed. Unarmed and wearing just their uniforms, the officers faced a hostile crowd with no protective gear.
Rescue on a Rain-Slick Fire Escape Under Attack
The situation escalated when they were told a 15-year-old girl had fallen and was trapped two stories up on a wet metal fire escape. Shaylor, Khan, and Whittaker went inside alone amid 1,500 people. The teen was in agony with a severely dislocated knee after slipping while fleeing.
“Some in the crowd mistook us for being there for them and were hostile,” said Shaylor. As they treated the girl and tried to carry her down, the crowd began hurling metal gas canisters, bricks, and masonry at them.
“The only thing we could do was position our bodies so the missiles hit us on our backs, not our heads, to protect her,” Shaylor explained. “We splinted her leg and carried her through the angry mob to the ambulance.”
Second Rescue: Life-Saving Aid for Overdose Victim
After getting the girl to safety, the officers returned inside to save a teenage boy unconscious from a suspected drug overdose. They inserted an airway and performed life-saving first aid. Both young victims made a full recovery.
Despite being battered and bruised by thrown objects, the three officers escaped with only minor injuries.
Award Nomination for Unsung Heroes
PC Shaylor told reporters, “We don’t go out looking for recognition. I think people are doing far braver things. But getting nominated is brilliant and humbling. We were just doing our job and thankfully it worked out well for those kids.”
Metropolitan Police Federation Chairman Ken Marsh praised the trio, saying: “I am extremely proud of these officers who put their own safety aside to save lives, giving emergency first aid and acting as human shields. This was a volatile situation that could have ended much worse.”
Ben, Ali, and James are now nominees for the National Police Bravery Awards, which salute outstanding courage by officers across England and Wales. They will attend the awards in July.
