Hero cops save man from deadly A12 fall after stolen car chase
Drama on the A12: Stolen car leads to daring rescue
PC Kyle Simmons and PC Eugene Robinson were on routine patrol when a number plate recognition alert flagged a stolen car on the A12. The vehicle was tied to a robbery in Romford.
They found the car parked near the roundabout above junction 12, where a man was rifling through the boot. As PC Simmons approached, the suspect bolted towards the A12 bridge—and then jumped over the barrier.
Heart-stopping rescue halts desperate leap
PC Robinson didn’t hesitate. He sprinted after the man, grabbing his waistband just as the suspect tried to fling himself onto the road below. Holding on for grim life, the officer pulled him back to safety with help from PC Simmons and a courageous member of the public.
The man was later identified as a high-risk missing person from London, adding another layer to the tense incident.
Bravery pays off – officers rewarded
PC Simmons recalled, “We found the car by the roadside, and honestly, the man was unusually calm for someone suspected in a robbery. As we neared, he suddenly made a break for it and hurled himself towards the edge.”
“We just held on. I warned him, ‘If you fall, you’ll die.’ He said, ‘Yeah, I know.’ It all happened so fast,” Simmons said.
PC Robinson added, “I thought he might escape, but he went right over the barrier. No time to think—just grab and hold.”
Both cops later received commendations from Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington. The top brass praised their “quick-thinking, bravery, and professionalism” at a ceremony held at Essex Police HQ.
“This was a highly dangerous situation with a potentially tragic ending if not for these officers’ swift actions,” said CC Harrington. “They risked their own lives to save his, despite his attempts to flee. Outstanding police work.”
PC Simmons humbly remarked, “Looking back at the footage, I didn’t think my actions were anything special—so it’s great to get this recognition.”
