Stevenage woman wins silver in Police Public Bravery Awards 2024

A woman who put herself in harm’s way to save a man on the edge of a bridge over a dual carriageway has received national recognition.

Isla Rasit, from Stevenage, was named as a silver medal winner in the Police Public Bravery Awards last Thursday (14 November).  

The 35-year-old was driving along a busy dual carriageway in Stevenage when she noticed someone on the edge of the footbridge above.

She stopped her vehicle and quickly ran up the footbridge, pulling the man back from the edge and to the ground.

Her nomination to the bravery awards by Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “The individual was clearly in a great deal of distress and it would have taken a great deal of strength to pull him back from the edge.

“Mrs Rasit then held on to the man until other members of the public and the police arrived to help her.

“This required a great deal of strength as the man was more than 6ft tall.”

Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: “Isla showed a great deal of bravery and determination towards her fellow human and most certainly saved his life during this incident. It was an honour to be at last week’s awards ceremony to recognise Isla’s brave efforts and present her with her certificate and silver medal.”

She was also recognised for her efforts with a Royal Humane Society Award earlier this year.

The prestigious Police Public Bravery Awards were held in Sheffield by the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, Lauren Poultney.

Each year the ceremony is held to honour the brave members of the public who have placed themselves in dangerous situations, carrying out courageous and selfless acts to help protect others, defend their communities, prevent and detect crime and actively assist the police.

Chief Constable’s from across the country visited to support their local winners, with over thirty medals and nineteen certificates being presented throughout the evening.

Chief Constable Poultney said: “The award winners have put themselves in danger to protect strangers. They are a shining example of why these awards are so important.

“Every day we ask our police officers to put themselves between harm and the public.

“Even with training, safety equipment and support from other police officers, this takes great bravery to deliver. But when members of the public support another person - often a stranger - or support the police in their jobs they do so without the same training or knowledge.

“This outstanding courage needs to be recognised and it is my honour to do so through the Police Public Bravery Awards.”