Constable Jonathan Tatam, aged 33, was responding to a road traffic collision near Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire, when he found a man pinned inside a car that had caught fire following a crash with a tractor. With flames intensifying and time running out, PC Tatam ran back to his patrol car, grabbed a fire extinguisher, and returned to the blaze — suppressing the flames just long enough to reach the trapped driver.
“I remember thinking if I don’t do something now, this person is going to die,” said PC Tatam. “Thankfully, we had a fire extinguisher in the police car — otherwise I doubt the man would be here today.”
The man’s leg was pinned under the dashboard, and the heat from the fire was so intense that PC Tatam feared the nearby hedge would ignite. Despite the danger, he managed to pull the man free and drag him down the road with the help of a colleague, PC Catrin Jones, who administered first aid. Just 30 seconds later, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
The victim was later airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with serious injuries, including a broken femur and third-degree burns.
“It all happened so fast”
Reflecting on the incident, which took place in August 2024, PC Tatam said watching the body-worn footage afterwards was “surreal.”
“The man’s friends were pleading with us to do something and I knew I couldn’t sit back and watch,” he said. “The relief of the flames being off him for a few minutes must have given him the strength to dislodge his foot and wriggle himself free.”
“I could hear popping and bangs — probably the tyres exploding. I don’t know what was going through my head, but I knew I had to get the man away from the car as quickly as possible.”
After the rescue, PC Tatam continued to manage the scene, clearing the road for emergency services and helping air ambulance crews carry equipment to the injured man. He said the support he received from Dyfed-Powys Police in the aftermath was “outstanding.”
“It didn’t hit home what had really happened until I went home that evening,” he said. “I was offered support, and my colleagues provided a listening ear.”
“I was called to another road traffic collision involving a vehicle on fire a couple of months afterwards, and I remember thinking, ‘not again.’ It’s part and parcel of the job, and it’s good knowing there is a support service available to officers should they need it.”
Bravery recognised at Force Awards
PC Tatam’s actions were formally recognised at the Dyfed-Powys Police Force Awards, held at headquarters on Friday, July 4. Sponsored by CDW, the ceremony honoured over 20 individuals and teams for their service, compassion and professionalism.
Tatam received the Bravery Award, sponsored by Niche, and was also nominated for a National Police Bravery Award, joining other officers from across the UK in London for a reception with the Home Secretary and a ceremony celebrating frontline heroism.
“It is lovely to be recognised so early on in my policing career,” said PC Tatam. “I didn’t expect to be nominated let alone win an award — I was just doing my job.”
“I have always wanted to be a police officer and applied a number of times when I was younger before finally getting the job when I turned 30.”
“A difference between life and death”
Chief Constable Richard Lewis praised PC Tatam’s courage, saying: “There was a considerable threat to his own safety, however he put himself at risk to ensure the safety of others. It is important that his swift actions, which made a difference between life and death, are commended.”
Dyfed-Powys Police Federation Chair Delme Rees added: “We couldn’t be any prouder of Jonathan for the exceptional courage and quick thinking he displayed in this rapidly deteriorating situation. There is no doubt his actions rescued the victim from an even worse outcome.”
Tatam’s story is one of several recent examples of frontline officers going above and beyond in service to their communities. Earlier this year, PCSO Rebecca Davies from Pembrokeshire was honoured for protecting a vulnerable adult from a Harry Potter-themed scam — a case that also drew praise from senior officers and the public alike. 📎 Read our full report on PCSO Davies’ award.
Celebrating frontline excellence
The Dyfed-Powys Police Force Awards highlighted the breadth of talent and dedication across the force, with winners recognised for everything from long service and community engagement to crisis response and investigative excellence.
Temporary Chief Constable Ifan Charles said: “Every nominee and award winner should feel immensely proud of the difference they make — not only to the communities we serve, but also to their colleagues and the wider policing family.”
“Our people are what make Dyfed-Powys unique, and it was an honour to recognise their achievements at the Force Awards ceremony.”
For PC Tatam, the recognition is a milestone in a career that began just three years ago — and a reminder of the risks officers face every day.
“As we always say, we were simply doing our jobs,” he said. “But there’s no doubt we do take risks and push ourselves every day, so the recognition was very much welcomed.”
