Added: 20/06/2008

Category: Suffolk Constabulary

A Suffolk police officer who rescued the occupants of two burning cars
after a collision near Nacton, will next week (Wednesday, 25 June)
receive a top bravery award from the Royal Humane Society.

PC Stewart McIlroy has been named as the winner of the Police Medal
2007 by the Society and will be given the award at the ACPO-APA
Conference in Liverpool. The Police Medal was introduced in 2000 to
recognise ‘the most meritorious act’ by a police officer during the
preceding year.

On January 13th 2006, PC McIlroy had been following a suspect car when
it suddenly turned, at high speed, out of a T-junction onto the A1156,
near Nacton, and hit the side of a people carrier heading towards
Ipswich.

Both vehicles were badly damaged on impact and both caught fire.

PC McIlroy immediately went to help the driver out of the people
carrier and then went over to the car to pull a woman passenger clear.

Having saved two people, PC McIlroy then returned to the car, now
described by witnesses as being ‘well alight’, to try to rescue the
driver.

Terence Mizen and David Alberto, who pulled up to offer assistance,
helped PC McIlroy free the driver’s legs from the pedals and foot well
and then haul the unconscious man through the car window.

Moments later, both vehicles were engulfed in flames and were
completely destroyed.

PC McIlroy, who has also been awarded a Bronze medal for the rescue,
said: “I’m very grateful to be given this award. I feel quite humble
to have been selected as the recipient of the Medal as there are many
police officers nationwide who go well beyond the call of duty on a
daily basis. Like me, they would probably say they are just doing their
job.

“Pulling those people from their vehicles was an instant response and
at the time I didn’t expect anything else to come of it. To get a
Bronze Medal from the Royal Humane Society was fantastic; being awarded
the Police Medal too is the icing on the cake.”

Simon Ash, Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary, said: “PC McIlroy
thoroughly deserves this award. He did a wonderful job in a dangerous
and difficult situation. The bravery of Mr Mizen and Mr Alberto must
also be mentioned, as they came to PC McIlroy’s aid without thought
for their own safety. I commend them all for their actions.”