BRAVERY MEDALS: The Carmarthen rookie and his tutor who ran into a burning house to save a sleeping woman

Two Carmarthen officers who ran into a burning house to pull a sleeping woman to safety have been honoured for bravery, one of them just two months out of classroom training.

PC Taylor Rees and PC Guto Dafydd received bronze medals from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, presented by Chief Constable Ifan Charles at Dyfed-Powys Police headquarters to mark Emergency Services Day.

It began with an incomplete 999 call in the early hours of Monday 17 November last year: “Mansel Street. Mansel Street Carmarthen. You need to get there now.” Then the line went dead.

Moments later a second caller rang in, worried for the welfare of someone at a property on the street.

The officers blue-lighted to the scene and found fire spreading rapidly across the first floor of the house.

The person the welfare call concerned was safely outside. Fearing others were still in the building, PC Rees and PC Dafydd went in without hesitation.

Inside they found a young woman asleep in bed, while the bedroom next door was completely consumed by flames.

With her safely out, PC Rees tried to tackle the fire himself, but the smoke was too thick to breathe and too much to fight alone.

Moments after everyone was accounted for, both upstairs bedroom windows exploded in the heat, raining shards of glass onto the street below.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews brought the blaze under control. Both officers suffered smoke inhalation and burns, received treatment, and stayed on duty to finish their shift.

We reported at the time that an 18-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. The force says a man was later convicted of arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

PC Dafydd said: “Attending this incident within two months of completing my classroom training was a real eye-opener. We are prepared to deal with all sorts of scenarios in our training, but you still never truly know what you will be faced with until you’re there at scene.

“I am grateful to PC Rees, my tutor, for leading on this incident which, thankfully, came to a safe conclusion.”

PC Rees said: “Our whole focus was on protecting the life of those in the property and making sure everyone was safely removed from the house before the situation could escalate further. When faced with unexpected circumstances, I think your instincts just kick in, and you do what you need to do to keep everyone safe.”

Chief Constable Charles, who also presented both officers with a Chief Constable’s commendation, said: “PC Taylor Rees and PC Guto Dafydd showed great courage, professionalism and compassion in difficult circumstances. Their willingness to act quickly and put the needs of others first helped ensure the safety and wellbeing of a vulnerable member of the public.

“Their actions are a reminder of the outstanding work carried out by officers across our force every day. I am very proud of both officers.”

Author

Kit Peters

Kit Peters is a journalist and the editor of Swansea Bay News, covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire since 2020.