Darwin Police Officer Awarded For Bravery
Friday March 6, 2009
A police officer in Darwin, Northern Territory was awarded a bravery medal on Monday for his attempts to save a woman trapped in a burning house.
"I accept this award on behalf of every police officer, fire officer whether paid or volunteer, emergency services and ambulance service personnel, knowing full well that each and every one of those would do the same under similar circumstances," Senior Sergeant Garry Smith told the Northern Territory News.
Regardless of the potential to risk his life, Snr Sgt Smith smashed a window of the woman's house with his torch. Surrounded by black smoke, he was determined to remove the shards of glass to enter the house.
The policeman called out to the woman and tried to get through the window before he was knocked back by lethal smoke.
Covered in cuts and burns, he collapsed after encountering acute smoke inhalation, and was taken to hospital.
Resident of the Darwin house, Helen Esnouf, 41, died during the incident due to smoke inhalation.
