A POLICE officer who helped to resuscitate a woman after she collapsed on the roadside and a PCSO who helped save a man wanting to commit suicide are among those to be recognised for their outstanding service and selfless acts of bravery.

Wiltshire Police recognised and rewarded the work of their officers and staff at an awards ceremony in Bradford on Avon.

Detective Constable Paula Clissold based in Salisbury, received the Chief Constable’s Commendation for her selfless and quick thinking actions in helping to save the life of a woman on January 30.

DC Clissold was in a marked police van in Castle Road when she was flagged down and saw a man trying to resuscitate his wife who had collapsed.

Confirming that the woman was not breathing or responding but had a slight pulse, DC Clissold gave the woman mouth to mouth, despite the fact that she had been frothing at the mouth at the time and had been sick. The woman gasped and started to breath with paramedics taking over on the arrival of the ambulance and the woman was taken to hospital where she made a full recovery.

Police Community Support Officer Maria Downham, based in Ludgershall, also received a Chief Constable’s Commendation for her quick response and actions when dealing with a man who wanted to take his own life.

PCSO Downham answered the urgent response to a home in Ludgershall but got no response after she tried the doorbell.

She looked through the post box in the front door where she could see the feet of the man on the second stair leading upstairs. Being unable to gain access due to the door being locked, she used an iron jemmy from her patrol car and smashed a small glass window pane to gain access to the door lock. On entering she found the male was attempting to self-harm and was struggling for breath.

The man was angry about PCSO Downham being there, but she was able to calm him down sufficiently until the arrival of a Paramedic and a Response unit.

The man did calm down but asked that PCSO Downham remain with him. She continued to comfort and support him and his wife, who had also arrived at the scene, until arrival of an ambulance to take him to hospital for treatment and assessment.

Thirty two police officers, staff and members of the public receive awards from the Chief Constable, Vice-Lord Lieutenant - Lieutenant General Sir Roderick Cordy-Simpson, High Sheriff David Hempleman-Adams, Commissioner Angus Macpherson and Mr and Mrs Andrew Cooper.

Chief Constable Mike Veale said: “The Force Awards are a fantastic opportunity to honour our colleagues and members of the public for their outstanding service and selfless acts of bravery.

“Almost every day I hear about fantastic acts of courage, brilliant high quality work or sheer acts of kindness and as a result I speak to many officers, police staff and the public just to say thank you."

The ceremony took place last Thursday, June 16.