'˜Extraordinary' Sheffield police officers are honoured for risking their lives and saving others

Brave Sheffield police officers who risked their lives and battled to save others have been honoured for their heroism.

Sheffield bobbies Christopher Beevers and Chelsea Rudge fought to save a man battered and left for dead in a burning flat before risking their own lives to enter the inferno looking for suspects.

The daring duo found 44-year-old Cy Cooper lifeless on the floor of his home in Bluebell Close, Wincobank, dragged him out of the burning property and fought to revive him before paramedics arrived.

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They then entered the smoke filled flat to check it was empty before risking their lives for a second time after spotting two men, one of whom was later convicted of murder, going inside.

Mr Cooper had been kicked and stamped on before being slashed across his neck. He suffered 23 broken ribs and a number of teeth were dislodged in the attack.

His home was then set alight in a bid to cover the killer’s tracks.

Paul Cain, 24, was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years behind bars for the murder.

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Presenting bravery awards to PCs Beevers and Rudge, Chief Inspector Richard Lambert, of South Yorkshire Police, said: “Bravery is doing something for the greater good despite the fear that you feel, to run in the opposite direction to everyone else in the direction of the source of danger not away from it. To do so feeling the same fear that the others feel, but to put yourself potentially in harm’s way and still conduct yourself professionally and calmly.

“These two officers were faced with a well-established flat fire and an unconscious male lying in the doorway. The officers immediately set about their primary duty of trying to preserve life, dragging the man from the property and, recognising the state he was in, commencing CPR and trying to treat the man’s substantial injuries.

“The officers re-entered the burning complex to ensure the safe evacuation of other members of the public already suffering from smoke inhalation.

“And in the type of incident that could only happen to a police officer, two other men potentially involved then ran back into the burning building.

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“Despite their apparent involvement in a serious offence of violence, at great personal risk the officers re-entered the burning building to recover the two men - one of whom was arrested for murder.

“It is these types of incidents that make policing unlike any other job, and it is the bravery and professionalism shown by these two officers that make them extraordinary people.”

Police chiefs have also honoured PC Tracey Bullas for saving the life of a man who stopped breathing after he was stabbed in the neck by his ex-partner’s new boyfriend.

When she arrived at a property in Elm Road, Beighton, PC Bullas found Darren Raistrick slumped over the arm of a settee with a knife embedded in his neck.

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Michael Mallinder, of Armstead Road, Brighton, who was later jailed for 20 years for the attack which paralysed his victim, was found next to the casualty.

PC Bullas threatened to taser the attacker until he dropped a second weapon he was brandishing, then gave emergency first aid to the victim.

Presenting PC Bullas with a humanitarian award, Superintendent Shaun Morley described the bobby’s actions as ‘extraordinary and courageous’.

“PC Bullas found a large amount of blood including blood splatters all over the living room wall and a male slumped over the arm of a settee with a black handled knife sticking out of the back of his neck, with the offender stood over him holding a knif,” he said.

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“She immediately took out her taser and ‘red dotted’ the offender. She told him to drop the weapon, which he did, and was arrested by her colleague.

“PC Bullas took responsibility of the care of victim.”

The surgeon who treated Mr Raistrick said the actions of PC Bullas ‘without doubt saved his life’.