HONOURED . . . PC Mark Aldridge of Annan, left, and PC Dale Graham received their honour from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Brave @ Heart Awards in Edinburgh on Tuesday evening, for their actions saving a suicidal man
PC Mark Aldridge, of Annan Police Station, was a recipient at the Brave @ Heart Awards held at Edinburgh Castle on Tuesday, for his role helping save the life of a man attempting to commit suicide in Kirkcudbright Harbour.
Reacting to the honour, Mark, 28, said: “It’s fantastic, really. It happened quite a while ago. I’d not forgotten about it, but it wasn’t at the forefront of my mind so it was quite a shock when this came through the post.”
Mark was stationed in Kirkcudbright last March when he and colleague Dale Graham enlisted to a call about a man attempting suicide in the harbour.
Thinking back, Mark said: “I still remember it — I remember getting a call and going down to the harbour, having a search and not being able to see anybody, turning the vehicle off and hearing a faint cough in the distance and then finding the guy.”
The man was sitting slumped over in the water about 20 yards from dry land, and between him and the two officers was a large and extremely soft landbank.
The man became trapped as his legs sunk into the silt and he began to hyperventilate and choke, forcing PC Graham to attempt a rescue as Mark held onto him — wading out and pulling the man to safety.
Both officers then provided initial medical assistance until the arrival of other emergency services.
Reacting to being honoured for his actions, collecting his award from the First Minister on Tuesday, Mark said: “It wasn’t something I’d ever thought about. I was just trying to make sure the boy was safe.”
He added: “It’s not something you think when join the job, ‘I’m going to go into a river and save somebody’s life’. You just do what you’ve
got to do.”
Mark moved to Annan station in October last year, growing up in Dornock and with his father a police officer in the area.
