AFTER risking their lives to drag a drowning, unconscious man from very rough seas, two Suffolk police officers have been nominated for a national bravery award.

Mark Lord

AFTER risking their lives to drag a drowning, unconscious man from very rough seas, two Suffolk police officers have been nominated for a national bravery award.

Constables David Colbridge and Christopher Clark have been nominated for the national Police Bravery Award after pulling a suicidal man from high seas last October.

The two officers have been shortlisted for the 13th annual awards ceremony, which will be held in London on Thursday, July 10.

In the early hours of a morning in October last year, Pcs Colbridge and Clark were informed by Great Yarmouth Coastguard that a suicidal man had gone missing near the seafront at Lowestoft.

Pc Colbridge began a search and about an hour later he spotted the soaking wet man who was also bleeding from his face.

He saw the man had entered the rough sea - with waves smashing against the rocks at the seafront - by jumping into a man-made gully.

Pc Clark stopped his colleague from jumping in after him and got an emergency lifeline so that both officers could enter the freezing gully.

The man was being swept out to sea when a huge wave hit and smashed him into rocks, knocking him unconscious. Then another large wave threw his body towards the officers, allowing them to grab hold of him. They dragged him from the sea and up the steps to safety.

Matt Gould, chairman of Suffolk Police Federation, said: “We are delighted that Pcs Colbridge and Clark's bravery has been recognised and that they have been put forward for this most prestigious national award, amongst the numerous examples of bravery shown by officers throughout the country.”

The Police Bravery Awards honour police officers across England and Wales for their actions to tackle criminals and keep the public safe.