Police officer hailed over river rescue

Pc Paul Kitchen of Calderdale Police was helped by emergency medical technician Trevor Binns from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service as they pulled the man from the River Calder.

Angela Shepherd saw the man in the river by Wharf Street, Sowerby Bridge, just before 1am on Saturday, January 16 and called police.

He appeared to be drowning in deep water just by the mill weir.

Miss Shepherd had shouted at him to stay still and waded into the water to try and get hold of the man. When Pc Kitchen arrived, he asked Miss Shepherd to step out of the water as she was putting herself in danger.

Pc Kitchen and Mr Binns waded out into the fast flowing water and managed to drag the man back to the bank.

Chief Supt Alan Ford, divisional commander, praised the three rescuers, and added: "Pc Kitchen acted in the finest traditions of the police force to put his own life at risk to help save the life of another. And Miss Shepherd and Mr Binns also played a very important part in saving a life."