A courageous officer from Dyfed-Powys Police has been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2024 after his heroic efforts in rescuing an injured woman and her dog from the edge of a 100ft dam.
The harrowing incident unfolded when Dyfed-Powys Police received a distress call reporting that two dogs had fallen over the edge of the Caban Coch Dam. One dog was tragically found deceased, while the other was alive but badly injured. The situation took a drastic turn when the caller’s partner attempted to retrieve the dogs and ended up falling down the sluiceway, sustaining significant facial injuries and a probable broken wrist. With the injured woman now dangerously perched on the edge of the dam, holding onto the injured dog, the scene was fraught with peril.
PCs Peter Evans and Rhodri Jones were the first responders on the scene and immediately recognized the gravity of the situation. With the victim’s life hanging in the balance, and the nearest Mountain Rescue team 45 minutes away, quick action was imperative. Despite the treacherous conditions and lack of support structures, PC Jones bravely lowered himself down into the overflow area of the dam and onto the edge of the sluice, using a throw line to successfully pull both the victim and her dog to safety.
Reflecting on PC Jones’s actions, Gareth Jones, Chair of the Dyfed Powys Police Federation, expressed profound admiration for his bravery and composure under pressure. “Rhodri’s nomination is fully deserved,” Gareth remarked. “The way he acted with calmness, yet determination, in circumstances which must have been unbearably distressing for the victims, is a true measure of bravery.”
Chief Constable Richard Lewis echoed these sentiments, emphasizing PC Jones’s pivotal role in averting what could have been a far more tragic outcome. There is no doubt that he prevented what could so easily have turned out to be a far more tragic incident,” Chief Constable Lewis affirmed. PC Jones should feel immensely proud for being nominated for this year’s Police Bravery Awards.”
PC Rhodri Jones’s nomination stands as a testament to his unwavering courage and commitment to saving lives, embodying the highest ideals of service and sacrifice upheld by Dyfed-Powys Police.
